A new $30 million, 4,700-seat sports arena will house several of the University of Idaho’s sports programs, including men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, when it completes in 2020. Designed by Hastings + Chivetta Architects, with Opsis Architecture as the Architect of Record, University of Idaho Arena will also serve as a gathering space for academic events, special concerts, and meetings.
Timber and mass timber construction will become a focal point for the project, which has received a Wood Innovation Grant to help with construction costs. The arena will become the first wood facility of its size in Idaho.  “Partnering with our strong natural resource industries to build an innovative building using new mass timber construction technology is exciting and demonstrates the innovation and engagement UI does so well,” says University of Idaho President Chuck Staben in a release.
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The new arena is slated for construction on the north side of Kibbie Dome and will become a showpiece for student athletes. Through its use of timber and mass timber construction, the arena will also serve as a learning laboratory for students in forestry and engineering.
The structural engineer for the project is KPFF Structural Engineers and the general contractor is Hoffman Construction.
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