venue news
Controversial London music venue, MSG Sphere, gets full planning permission
by Liz Terry | 06 Apr 2022
The MSG Sphere, a controversial auditorium and music globe designed by Populous, has been given full planning permission by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). If built, the Sphere would tower 90m above Stratford, London, and in addition to the auditorium, would include a nightclub, bars, restaurants, cafés, shops and parking. The sphere would boast the “largest and highest resolution LED screen in the world” – in the form of
Buro Happold acquires Vanguardia to take audio-visual and acoustics expertise in-house
by Tom Walker | 15 Jun 2021
Buro Happold, has acquired acoustics and audio-visual consultancy Vanguardia Limited and its subsidiary Crowd Dynamics International. The move will strengthen Buro Happold’s depth of expertise in acoustics and AV technology. Specifically, the acquisition will enhance standalone and combined services of acoustics and sound engineering, environmental advisory services, plus a broad range of electro-acoustic and technology offerings. It also provides Buro Happold with a fully integrated mobility consulting capability, encompassing inclusive
Edwardian swimming baths restored for use as arts venue
by Stu Robarts | 18 Feb 2020
Donald Insall Associates have completed restoration work of Edwardian architecture at Grade II listed heritage swimming baths that are being converted for use as an arts and culture venue. Moseley Road Baths are said to be the only baths in the UK built before 1914 to have continuously hosted swimming since they opened, which was in 1907. They are architecturally significant due to the quality and completeness of their interior,
Tokyo 2020 gymnastics venue completed
by Tom Walker | 11 Nov 2019
Construction work has been competed on the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, one of the main venues of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 12,000-capacity arena will host artistic, rhythmic and trampoline gymnastics events during the Games, as well as being used for boccia during the Paralympic Games. Created by a design team including architects Nikken Sekkei, the venue will look to showcase "true Japanese craftsmanship" and "embody Japan's woodworking
DAP Group to design Europe's largest esports venue in Stockholm
by Tom Walker | 21 Oct 2019
Plans have been revealed to build Europe's largest esports gaming hub in the Swedish capital Stockholm. Space Digital Culture Centres (Space) – a Swedish property and entertainments venture set up to create hubs for gaming and music – plans to establish a permanent, 7,500sq m (80,700sq ft) esports venue covering seven floors. Space is headed by co-founders Gustav Käll, Lars Blomberg and Per Sundin. Käll is the head of esports-focused
Populous designs largest esports venue in Southern Hemisphere
by Stu Robarts | 27 Sep 2019
Sports stadium and events venue experts Populous have unveiled designs for the largest video gaming and esports complex in the Southern Hemisphere. Covering 2,700sq m (29,100sq ft), spread across two floors and with a capacity for over 1,000 people, Fortress Melbourne will house a purpose-built arena with a retractable 200-seat grandstand, a professional boot camp room and training facilities, dedicated areas for LAN, RPG and tabletop gaming, two bars and
We need a revolution in the design of entertainment venues says Euromonitor
by Andy Knaggs | 08 Aug 2019
Entertainment venues need to undergo technological and design upgrades to prepare them for the experience-seeking consumer of 2040, according to research by Euromonitor International. Commerce 2040 - Revolutionary Tech Will Boost Consumer Engagement outlines a vision for how consumers might live, work, shop and play in 20 years' time, exploring how technology could change the different consumer worlds of entertainment venues, home and retail. Consumers are already moving towards demanding
Milan-Cortina's 2026 Olympic Games' to rely on existing infrastructure – masterplan features one new venue
by Tom Walker | 28 Jun 2019
Milan-Cortina, which has been selected to host the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics Games, has revealed the events will aim for a low carbon footprint, with the majority of facilities used being existing. Milan-Cortina's bid received 47 out of a total of 82 votes cast by IOC members, with rival bid Stockholm-Åre receiving 34 votes, with one abstention. The bids from Milan and Stockholm were the first to be produced
HOK and SAP envision 'esports venue of the future' in new report
by Andrew Manns | 30 May 2019
Architectural design and planning firm Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum (HOK) and software company SAP have released their joint report on the future of esports design. According to their white paper, esports – the fastest growing industry in the entertainment sector – will soon require specially designed facilities to accommodate the unique needs of spectators and competitors. "As technology helps break down cultural barriers," reads the report, "esports are redefining fan
Interactive aquaculture venue with 'fish-eye' design planned for Norway
by Andy Knaggs | 07 May 2019
A concept design for a "world-class" visitor centre at a Norwegian salmon farm has been unveiled by Danish exhibition design company Kvorning Design & Communication. It's hoped that The Salmon Eye visitor centre at seafood company Eide Fjordbruk's fish farming site in Hardangerfjord, Norway, will draw attention to and increase dialogue about standards of aquaculture, encouraging innovation. Should the project go forward following approval from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries,
Ambitious plans for London's largest music venue unveiled
by Andrew Manns | 29 Mar 2019
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) has submitted plans to the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) for the MSG Sphere – a multi-use entertainment complex slated to become the city's largest music venue. The 21,500-capacity arena will be situated on a 4.7-acre site in Stratford and play host to a variety of events, such as concerts, conferences, and sporting matches. Its campus will also comprise restaurants, parks, retail areas, a
L'Avenue restaurant brings the French Alps to Fifth Avenue
by Andrew Manns | 14 Feb 2019
The first iteration of the popular Paris dining concept L'Avenue has opened its doors at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. Designed by French art director and interior specialist Philippe Starck, L'Avenue stretches across the luxury emporium's 8th and 9th floors and boasts a wunderkammer-style main dining room as well as a lounge modelled after an alpine ski lodge. Dubbed the "Salon", the dining area, which Starck has called an
WTC performing arts venue gets US$89m grant
by Andy Knaggs | 18 Dec 2018
Funding for the planned World Trade Center performing arts complex in New York has taken another major step forward, with the award of a multi-million dollar grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant of US$89m (€78.11m, £70.11) to the Ronald O.Perelman Center for the Performing Arts takes funding raised to 82 per cent of its total construction costs. Major
SHoP Architects and First Avenue set stage for Minneapolis venue and park
by Luke Cloherty | 29 Aug 2018
A 10,000 capacity amphitheatre-cum-public park is to provide a “year-round epicentre for live music and entertainment”, according to its architects. New York-based SHoP Architects have been chosen by First Avenue Productions – the developer and offshoot of the legendary Minneapolis music venue First Avenue – to design the Community Performing Arts Center (CPAC) on the Mississippi River waterfront in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US. “We focussed on creating an inclusive venue where
Herzog and de Meuron transform historic Hong Kong police station and prison compound into arts venue
by Kim Megson | 04 Jun 2018
Herzog and de Meuron have completed their latest cultural project: a museum and arts complex spread inside a walled compound of heritage justice buildings on Hong Kong Island. A dramatic light show marked the opening of the Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts on 25 May, with 150 guests in attendance, including the administrative region’s chief executive Carrie Lam. Over twelve years, the Swiss architects have carefully restored 16
Historic Commonwealth Games venue set for £47m redevelopment
by Tom Walker | 16 May 2018
Plans to replace the historic Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh with a modern £47m sports centre will be discussed by the City of Edinburgh Council next month. Two planning applications have been filed for the stadium, which was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games. One application proposes a new £47m sports centre to replace the original venue, while the other lays out plans for a mixed-use redevelopment of the wider site,
Venue plans completed for Tokyo 2020 Olympics
by Tom Walker | 08 May 2018
The Tokyo Organising Committee for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOPG), has finalised its plans for the venues for the Games. In a statement, TOCOPG said it had added the "final pieces to the facility puzzle" by agreeing deals for the seven venues needed to host the Olympic football competition. The deal will see Sapporo Dome, Miyagi Stadium, Ibaraki Kashima Stadium, Saitama Stadium, Tokyo Stadium and the International Stadium
First new permanent venue of the Tokyo 2020 Games opens to the public
by Kim Megson | 01 Dec 2017
The first permanent venue built for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo has opened to the public. The Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, located close to Kengo Kuma’s forthcoming national Stadium, will host badminton, modern pentathlon fencing and wheelchair basketball and has a seating capacity of more than 10,000. Constructed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the arena includes a swimming pool, gym, multi-use sports area and two fitness studios
Rockwell Group's industry-inspired concert venue anchors Washington DC waterfront
by Kim Megson | 08 Nov 2017
Architecture and design studio Rockwell Group have completed a 6,000 capacity music and arts venue in Washington DC, anchoring a new mile-long neighbourhood along a channel of the Potomac River. Designed in collaboration with developers PN Hoffman and Madison Marquette, The Anthem is a 130,000sq ft (39,624sq m) space dedicated to indie and alternative music as well as conventions, art exhibitions, seminars, banquets and fashion shows. Rockwell Group were inspired
Chicago Shakespeare Theater unveils intimate and innovative new venue on Navy Pier
by Kim Megson | 04 Oct 2017
Visitors to Chicago’s Navy Pier can now enjoy a show inside one of the world’s most flexible theatres, which has been constructed inside the attraction's Skyline Stage. Theatre design consultancy Charcoalblue and design firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) have collaborated on the ambitious reuse project, called The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. Rather than constructing a new theatre from scratch, the duo instead designed a fully enclosed, year-round
Construction begins on London music venue linking culture and Crossrail
by Kim Megson | 18 Aug 2017
Construction is underway on two new live music venues and a leisure-filled “urban gallery” in central London, designed by British architects Orms. The St Giles Circus scheme, which is being overseen by real estate firm Consolidated Developments, will see two new buildings created and two other listed properties refurbished near the crossroads of Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road, New Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road. The larger of the new
Michael Bloomberg donates US$75m to under development Shed arts venue
by Tom Anstey | 26 May 2017
Philanthropist and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has donated US$75m (€66.8m, £58.3m) to The Shed – an under construction cultural institution in New York’s burgeoning Hudson Yards district. Bloomberg made an initial donation of US$15m (€13.3m, £11.7m) in 2012, contributing a further US$60m (€53.5m, £46.6m) towards the project this week. His donation brings total funds raised up to US$421m (€375m, £327.4m) as part of a US$500m (€445.5m, £388.8m)
Design competition launched for 'world-class' Kaunas concert venue
by Kim Megson | 19 Apr 2017
An international design competition is to be held in the next few months for a new concert venue in the heart of Kaunas, Lithuania. Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) has been appointed by Kaunas City Municipality to run the one-stage design contest, which will identify an architect to build a world-class music venue, called the M.K. Ciurlionis Concert Centre, with multifunctional spaces for public and community events. The initiative follows the
Swiss Winter Olympics venue regenerated at St Moritz resort
by Matthew Campelli | 30 Jan 2017
St Moritz’s Kulm Eispavillon – which hosted the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympics – has been restored by architecture firm Foster + Partners. After being abandoned for several years, the building has now been regenerated to host sporting events, as well as other functions. In February 2017, the venue is due to accommodate the medal ceremonies at the Ski World Championships, which are being hosted in the Swiss town. It
LA 2024 bid organisers reveal ‘low-risk, sustainable’ venue plan
by Matthew Campelli | 18 Jan 2017
Organisers of the Los Angeles Olympic bid for 2024 cemented the sustainability credentials of the project, confirming that only existing, already planned, or temporary venues will be used should they be successful. LA 2024’s committee revealed the venues for archery, modern pentathlon and mountain biking, with all three taking place in planned of existing facilities. Archery will take place in the LA Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park, which
Bristol Arena delayed after contractor price talks break down
by Matthew Campelli | 16 Jan 2017
The opening of the hotly-anticipated Bristol Arena will be delayed by two years after the relationship between the main contractor and the council broke down over cost. According to a statement made by Bristol City Council, the local authority and Bouygues UK decided to “part ways” as a “price cannot be reached”. Last April, it was revealed that the Populous-designed venue – which is going to be used for sport
Architects HKS declare LA Stadium 'a venue unlike any other in sports' as construction kicks off
by Kim Megson | 28 Nov 2016
The Kroenke Sports and Entertainment company has broken ground on the new HKS-designed Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, which will be the new home of National Football League (NFL) franchise the LA Rams. Sized at nearly 3 million sq ft (278,700sq m), multipurpose venue is set to be the largest in the NFL when it opens in 2019. It will include 70,000 fixed seats, with the flexibility
Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Rockwell Group reveal The Shed – a vast New York arts venue on wheels
by Kim Megson | 21 Nov 2016
Architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and design studio Rockwell Group have unveiled their plans for an expandable cultural venue in New York’s burgeoning Hudson Yards district. The duo, who are both based in the city, have designed The Shed; a new centre for artistic invention set to open in early 2019. Currently under construction on the far west side of Manhattan, where the High Line meets Hudson Yards, the facility
HOK and ICON Group pledge to 'transform the entertainment industry' with Las Vegas music venue
by Kim Megson | 04 Nov 2016
Global sports and arena architects HOK have been tasked with designing “the world’s largest next-generation music and entertainment venue” in Las Vegas. Located on Sands Avenue in the heart of Vegas, the arena will feature a scalable seating capacity, enabling it to present a wide variety of shows – “from the largest touring concerts to specially designed residencies and full-blown productions and events.” The project is being funded by the
NBA's Washington Wizards conjure up practice venue/concert arena hybrid
by Kim Megson | 04 Oct 2016
US National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise the Washington Wizards is creating a new training facility that will double as a concert venue and events arena. While competing teams in Brooklyn, Chicago and Toronto have previously merged practice venues with residential accommodation, the Washington team claims it is the first in the NBA to actively create a mixed-use leisure facility. According to The Washington Post, the plans outlined by the Wizards
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