HOK's Chris DeVolder tells CLAD why sports design must be sustainable
by Kim Megson | 25 May 2016
Chris DeVolder is sustainable design leader at architecture firm HOK / HOK
With its mass appeal and ability to unite people worldwide, sport offers a powerful platform for demonstrating and communicating the importance of sustainability.
That’s the view of Chris DeVolder, sustainable design leader at architecture firm HOK.
In a column penned for the latest issue of CLADmag, DeVolder reflected on the changing nature of sports-oriented design, particularly with city centre sports developments returning to favour.
“By establishing new paradigms for environmentally friendly design and acting as a hub for related sustainable development, sports venues can become critical assets for an individual location, a community and a region,” he wrote.
“There’s a focus on engaging residents, daytime workers and visitors every day of the week – not just on game or match days. These projects promote related development and maximise return on investment while creating vibrant, sustainable urban communities.”
HOK has worked on several such mixed-use projects, including the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, US; the Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton, Canada; and the Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona, Spain.
In his column, DeVolder revealed the trends he considers the most important for sports architects to consider as they design the stadiums and sports facilities of the future.
Among other features, he said stadiums should harvest water, create energy, turn waste into food, enable mixed-use programming and adopt adaptive landscaping.
DeVolder’s column, and his full list of sustainability trends, can be read here.
HOK have recently partnered with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Architects Foundation to research how an improvement in sustainable design practices can improve public health.
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FEATURE: Sports – Good sports
With its mass appeal and ability to unite people worldwide, sport offers a powerful platform for demonstrating and communicating the importance of sustainability. That’s the view of Chris DeVolder, sustainable design leader at architecture firm HOK. In a column penned for the latest issue of CLADmag, DeVolder reflected on the changing nature of sports-oriented design, particularly with city centre sports developments returning to favour. “By establishing new paradigms for environmentally
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