International architecture firm Populous were chosen in March to design the £90m Bristol Arena in Bristol, UK.
The winning team, comprising of Populous (with Feilden Clegg Bradley, BuroHappold and Vanguardia) was selected from a shortlist of five to design the 12,000 seat multi-use venue.
“Our arena ticked all the boxes on function and form; it’s an eminently operatable building,” project architect Mike Trice, senior principal at Populous, told CLADmag.
The winning design is a flexible building that converts from a 12,000-seat arena to a more intimate venue for smaller events.
“The unique thing about the way it reconfigures is that it can go from a very small venue for 4,000 people up to a big venue for up to 12,000 people. It allows any sort of band to play in it and can cope with any sort of stage configuration,” said Trice. “It’s unique the way we’ve delivered it as an architectural piece.”
The exterior features a masonry plinth base, designed to reflect the industrial history of the area, with a crystalline disk above it.
The environmental sustainability of the building was a key factor in the choice of design. “We’re targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating; the exact features that will be used will depend on the precinct-wide energy strategy that is agreed upon by the council,” said Trice.
Bristol Mayor and former RIBA president George Ferguson promised to bring an arena to Bristol as part of his election manifesto [he was elected Mayor in November 2012].
“This arena will strengthen Bristol’s attraction as a destination and it will be a major catalyst for the regeneration of the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth,” said Ferguson.
“The design offers real flexibility for programming for now and into the future.”
International architecture firm Populous were chosen in March to design the £90m Bristol Arena in Bristol, UK.
The winning team, comprising of Populous (with Feilden Clegg Bradley, BuroHappold and Vanguardia) was selected from a shortlist of five to design the 12,000 seat multi-use venue.
“Our arena ticked all the boxes on function and form; it’s an eminently operatable building,” project architect Mike Trice, senior principal at Populous, told CLADmag.
The winning design is a flexible building that converts from a 12,000-seat arena to a more intimate venue for smaller events.
“The unique thing about the way it reconfigures is that it can go from a very small venue for 4,000 people up to a big venue for up to 12,000 people. It allows any sort of band to play in it and can cope with any sort of stage configuration,” said Trice. “It’s unique the way we’ve delivered it as an architectural piece.”
The exterior features a masonry plinth base, designed to reflect the industrial history of the area, with a crystalline disk above it.
The environmental sustainability of the building was a key factor in the choice of design. “We’re targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating; the exact features that will be used will depend on the precinct-wide energy strategy that is agreed upon by the council,” said Trice.
Bristol Mayor and former RIBA president George Ferguson promised to bring an arena to Bristol as part of his election manifesto [he was elected Mayor in November 2012].
“This arena will strengthen Bristol’s attraction as a destination and it will be a major catalyst for the regeneration of the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth,” said Ferguson.
“The design offers real flexibility for programming for now and into the future.”
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
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