flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

A wood-clad arena is rising in Copenhagen

Sports and Recreational Facilities

A wood-clad arena is rising in Copenhagen

The design of this 377,000-sf building makes concessions to the residential community that surrounds it.


By John Caulfield, Senior Editor | October 12, 2016

The 377,000-sf Royal Arena in Copenhagen will include plazas that residents of the surrounding neighborhood can take advantage of. Image: Adam Mørk, Courtesy of 3XN Architects

 

The new Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark, which is scheduled to open early next year, aspires to integrate seamlessly into the largely residential neighborhood of Ørestad (which sits between City Hall and Copenhagen Airport) through design refinements that bring this massive—35,000-sm (377,000-sf)—multipurpose building to a human scale.

“The project looks both inward and out,” says Jan Ammundsen, Senior Partner with 3XN Architects, the project’s designer. That balance will be achieved by the combination of two primary elements: a plinth that absorbs the movement of spectators through a variety of small plazas, pockets, stairs and gathering areas carved from the plinth’s perimeter; and the “bowl” inside whose design prioritizes clear sight lines and wayfinding, service, and smoother visitor circulation.

The building’s design also addresses the “passive user” who may not even enter the arena, with four smaller public squares around the arena, which establish inviting areas where locals can socialize, play sports, or relax.

Ørestad is accessible by car, metro, and trains, and the arena will be situated at the heart of a new urban district that will include housing, offices, and an ice rink. Local planning also allows for a new primary and lower secondary school with sports facilities.

The oval-shaped arena, which can accommodate up to 16,000 people, features a semi-transparent glass façade system topped with wooden fins that are up to 35 meters long. The façade that allows natural light to pour in is coupled with warm materials to make a strong connection with the plinth.

The design also protects the surrounding area from noise pollution. A 3D-model was used to determine the typical sound pressure level for concerts held in the arena. By doing so, the agreed noise limits can be determined and the optimal sound insulation performance level of each part of the facade and roof can be calculated.

The Building Team on this project includes HKS (arena specialist), ARUP and ME Engineers (engineering), and Planit-IE (landscape architect). Other consultants that worked with Arena CPHX—a company that was formed to oversee construction of the arena—include Davis Langdon (an AECOM company), and COWI as the project manager.

The building is owned by Realdania and the Municipality of Copenhagen, which each kicked in 325 million Danish Krone (US$48.2 million) for this project. A committee under the Danish Ministry of Culture also made a conditional contribution of 15 million DKK.

Live Nation will operate the arena, which will open on February 3 with a performance by the rock group Metallica, whose drummer, Lars Ulrich, is Danish.

 

Wooden fins up to 35 meters long form the cladding over the semi-transparent exterior of the Royal Arena. Image: Adam Mørk, Courtesy of 3XN Architects.

Related Stories

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 6, 2016

Las Vegas debuts another new arena, with a number of ‘firsts’

The gambling mecca has its eyes on attracting a pro sports team. 

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 5, 2016

The importance of true cost-modeling for sports facilities

Many factors prevent sports facilities from immediate profitability. Rider Levett Bucknall’s Peter Knowles and Steve Kelly write that cost modeling, the process of estimating construction expenses by analyzing fixed and variable expenses, can push facility development to financial success.

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 1, 2016

San Diego Chargers announce plan for downtown stadium and convention center

The project will be funded primarily by a tax increase on hotel stays.  

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 31, 2016

An extreme sports tower for climbing and BASE jumping is proposed for Dubai’s waterfront

The design incorporates Everest-like base camps for different skill levels.

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 29, 2016

New skatepark complex has three levels of surfaces and obstacles

Guy Hollaway Architects designed an indoor 10,700-sf park in Folkestone, England, to accommodate BMX biking, skateboarding, and other extreme sports.  

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 25, 2016

Minnesota Timberwolves join pack of NBA teams with new high-res video screens

The Wolves, Charlotte Hornets, and Sacramento Kings have new multi-paneled center-hung displays planned for their arenas.

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 24, 2016

Barcelona hoops arena will rattle opponents with wall of raucous fans

HOK and TAC Arquitectes designed a basketball palace that will have intimate seating inside and public space outside.

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 18, 2016

Milwaukee Bucks reveal more renderings of new downtown arena project

The plan, led by Populous, includes a 714,000-sf arena and a 30-acre mixed-use development.  

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 14, 2016

Washington Redskins tease new stadium model designed by Bjarke Ingels

The location isn't yet determined, but the new stadium will have a moat for kayaking.

Events Facilities | Mar 7, 2016

Experts pessimistic on Chicago’s $650 million McCormick Place expansion

Developers and city officials envision $250 million of annual growth, but the figure assumes that a new arena will lure conventions and draw full houses for basketball games.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




Mixed-Use

A surging master-planned community in Utah gets its own entertainment district

Since its construction began two decades ago, Daybreak, the 4,100-acre master-planned community in South Jordan, Utah, has been a catalyst and model for regional growth. The latest addition is a 200-acre mixed-use entertainment district that will serve as a walkable and bikeable neighborhood within the community, anchored by a minor-league baseball park and a cinema/entertainment complex.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021