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will want to create more diverse revenue streams, leveraging their unique position within communities beyond a reliance on match day revenues.
The transition to cashless venues has happened with the pandemic fast tracking some of the technology innovations that are now being seen as the ‘norm.’ Enhanced ventilation, and reduced touch points will be design enhancements that will continue, as we continue to design venues with safety and wellbeing at the core. Above all, I think we have all missed the communal enjoyment of watching sport and live entertainment together. Once the variants have passed, we will all be keen not to take such live experiences for granted and get back to hanging out with the tribe in wonderfully atmospheric venues.
WHAT DO DESIGNERS NEED TO CONSIDER TO ‘FUTUREPROOF’ MAJOR SPORTS FACILITIES AGAINST THE ENCROACHMENT OF DIGITAL SOURCES?
Focus on the experience of the event goer, how they can engage authentically with the sporting performance, and fully enjoy that unique experience of watching together and knowing that you were there when history was made.
DO YOU THINK GENUINELY SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL
APPROACHES ARE VIABLE FOR SUCH LARGE STRUCTURES? Yes, sustainability has to be at the forefront of innovative design. This is not just the
right thing to do, it makes financial long- term sense and is increasingly important to sponsor’s, naming rights partners and the fans themselves.
Sports and live entertainment venues have their own unique sustainability challenges – big spans, large amounts of embodied energy, peaks of usage and complex mobility plans. Any opportunity to address these challenges needs exploration, including innovative use of renewable materials such as CLT (Cross Laminated Txsimber). We are particularly interested in exploring the sustainability benefits of the deep refurbishment of heritage venues, such as the Avicii Arena in Stockholm. Reusing as much of the existing venue as possible rather than building a new one is a very effective sustainability strategy.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT PROFESSIONALLY? Watching Bruce Springsteen open Leeds Arena – which I helped to design – was pretty special, while it was a privilege to be part of the team that helped secure the Dubai World Expo for Dubai.
WHAT IS THE KEY INNOVATION IN THE INDUSTRY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE?
I would like to see a more collaborative contractual landscape, a ‘black box thinking’ environment where the industry works closer together to solve some of the big challenges we are facing, such as climate change.
WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT FAVOURITE MATERIAL FOR DESIGNING BUILDINGS? Like children, I am not sure it’s appropriate to have a favourite. Albeit with the carbon and sustainable advantages of timber, CLT has real opportunities to fulfil its potential in the next few years, if insurance challenges are resolved.
DO YOU TEND TO BE MORE ‘ATTENTION TO DETAIL’ OR ‘BIG PICTURE’? Ironically, I like both and in particular flexible strategies rather than singular solutions. It’s often the bit in the middle that I sometimes find others are better equipped to drive.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO MORE OF IN 2022?
See more live sport and entertainment, (and keep up the lockdown wild swimming!)
IS DIPLOMACY SOMETIMES AN ARCHITECT’S MOST IMPORTANT SKILL? I agree, as designers we are often used to dealing with varied parameters, such as the natural typography, the solar path, complex briefs, and spatial adjacencies, but in situations where persuasion is our only weapon, the key parameter is often diplomacy (and a great idea).
John Rhodes is design principal and director of sports + entertainment at HOK
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF FEBRUARY 2022
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