News Archive
Date: October 7th 2008 Project: O2 World Arena
HOK Sport Design Sets New Standard in Arena Design
Europe's newest entertainment arena, the O2 World Arena, designed by world leading sports stadia architects HOK Sport, has opened to acclaim for having set new standards in arena design.
The design has received public and professional praise for its innovative use of exterior technology which incorporates a 15,000 square foot exterior LED grid for text and graphics seen from far beyond the arena's site.
Designed for AEG, the new O2 World Arena incorporates modern interiors and an intimate seating bowl with technology at the heart of its internal and external appeal.
"We wanted a stunning design which would help energize the once-thriving area of east Berlin and dazzle our customers," said Detlef Kornet with Anschutz Entertainment Group, the arena’s owner. "The technology that HOK Sport has incorporated achieves that, setting the stage for an enthralling experience at the new O2 World Arena. The exterior LED grid project draws people into the new venue and communicates with outside. Inside the arena lobby, thousands of interior LED lights project color and abstract images to create a sense of movement and excitement."
"We created a concept that not only helps create a mood and set a tone for each event and also provides thematic references to the building’s presenting sponsor," said Jim Walters, HOK Sport senior principal. "The result is visually stunning, and I think it will continue to serve as a benchmark for future arena design all over the world."
The 17,000-seat, multipurpose O2 World Arena was designed to accommodate all types of entertainment, from hockey and other sporting events to concerts and family attractions. It is sited just beyond a remnant of the Berlin Wall and at the base of a public plaza extending to the Spree River. This area was once a boundary line dividing Berlin, so this new arena is a symbol of modern hope.
The O2 World Arena's exterior is a disciplined building mass which respects the historical patterns of setback, height, formality and rationalism which dominate the local urban fabric. Exterior materials recall classicism but in a modern transition and technique.
The arena's interiors respond to various market niches within the Berlin environment, including suites, business seats and dine and view seats. A private club room branded by O2, a European telecommunications company, exudes a modern look with glowing blue walls and sleek white furniture. Suites and restaurant spaces feature a mix of wood, glass and stone as a nod to the building's solid exterior stature.
O2 World Arena facts:
- Green roof covering nearly 50,000 square feet
- 17,000 seats
- 67 suites
- 300-seat restaurant with dine and view seats
- 400-seat club dining and 350-seat club lounge
- 979 club seats
- 645,850 square feet
For further information please contact
Gina Leo Stingley at Populous (Kansas City)
Telephone: +1 816 221 1500
Facsimile: +1 816 221 1578
Email media@populous.com