The world’s first certified net-zero arena was born from the redevelopment of a facility created for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Opened last fall, it hosts Seattle Storm basketball and Seattle Kraken ice hockey, as well as live music events and concerts.
Seattle (USA): the Climate Pledge Arena
Climate Pledge Arena is the region’s largest arena – an entirely new venue built under an existing roof -that revitalizes a historic landmark and cultivates the ultimate experience for fans of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, WNBA’s Seattle Storm, concerts and other events. With Amazon as the arena’s naming rights partner, Populous transformed its sustainable design approach to meet The Climate Pledge, a global initiative that commits signatories to net zero carbon across their businesses by 2040. Climate Pledge Arena is poised to become the world’s first arena to earn a net zero carbon certification from the International Living Future Institute.
Climate Pledge Arena is quite literally an arena in a park, something unheard of for a large public assembly venue, let alone one set in an urban neighborhood. The arena honors its original design intent while activating and enhancing a pedestrian-focused plan, giving the site back to the Seattle Center campus and serving as open public space for the neighboring community.
(credit: C.P.A.)
The new construction required the 44-million-pound roof to be lifted and suspended above the site while another 680,000 cubic yards of soil were removed underneath to nearly double the size of the former venue and create 360-degree pedestrian access. The beautiful curtain walls of glass were also restored, making Climate Pledge Arena the first in North America where someone can walk entirely around the facility while never losing sight of what’s inside.
(credit: Populous)