HOK-designed venue homage to Colombia heritage

Article posted by Coliseum, January 4^th, 2024

Image: HOK

The American architecture firm HOK has unveiled the design of the Primavera Arena in Sabaneta (Municipality in Colombia), which is part of the Medellín metropolitan area. The 55,000-sq-m (592,000-sq-ft) multipurpose arena will have a 16,000-seat capacity.

‘HOK’ stated that the arena is a critical element of the Sabaneta Urban Renewal Master Plan, including a comprehensive 14-hectare (34.5-acre) development with entertainment, green spaces and new infrastructure.

St. Louis (US)-based HOK, formerly Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum and legally the HOK Group, Inc., is an American design, architecture, engineering, and urban planning firm founded in 1955.

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‘HOK’ further stated that encircling the arena is a spacious pedestrian plaza shaded by an overhead canopy designed to resemble the base of a traditional silleteros chair, a cultural symbol of the region and an intrinsic icon of Medellín’s International Flower Festival. The digital canopies provide shelter for visitors navigating between the arena entrance and the surrounding shops, restaurants and a future Metro station.

Image: HOK

The façade’s vibrant reddish hues echo the iconic color palette of the Aburrá Valley region (Basin in Colombia) and are punctuated with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that enable the building envelope to change. Incorporating elements based on indigenous textiles and designed by the local firm Hechizoo, the façade interweaves heritage and artisanship. Evoking the colorful guayacán trees dotting the landscape, the building form pays homage to the rich cultural tradition of the Antioquian silleteros flower farmers.

Commented Carlos Delabarrera, HOK Senior Design Professional, “Our goal is to capture the essence of this region through artistic and culturally resonant design. From the color palette complementing the surrounding mountainsides to abstract references of the silleteros in the pedestrian canopy, every design choice amplifies what makes this place in Colombia unique.”

The Primavera Arena will have a multiuse concourse and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views and 14 restaurants. There are 22 luxury suites, 20 flexible open boxes and accessible spaces for individuals with reduced mobility.

With a focus on sustainability, HOK’s design incorporates strategies such as natural ventilation, daylighting and water conservation systems that position the Primavera Arena as Colombia’s first carbon-neutral entertainment venue.

The arena’s location next to the Mayorca Shopping Center and close proximity to the Itagüí Metro Station aims to promote the use of public transportation. The project will include 450 automobile parking spaces along with provisions for bicycle storage to accommodate access by various modes of transport.

Image: HOK

As a major destination on the global arena circuit, the Primavera Arena will attract both national and international artistes and events.

The arena will have a significant impact on the local economy. With an average of 75 events per year and a total of 600,000 attendees, it will generate nearly 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The CLK Group, a consortium of ticketing market leader Tuboleta, the Movistar Arena, promoter TBL Live, specialized food company Venues Snacks, and Thunder Production, is developing the project. HOK is providing the architectural design services.

Bogotá (Colombia)-based Tuboleta is an online entertainment website that specializes in sales and marketing of theater, concerts, sports, and other events.

The Movistar Arena, previously known as the Coliseo Cubierto El Campín, is an indoor sporting arena located in Bogotá, Colombia. It was built in 1973 and was renovated in 2018. The arena holds 90 shows per year. The venue can hold up to a maximum of 14,000 people.

Bogotá (Colombia)-based Venues Snacks is a specialized food company for massive events, sports venues and shows and is the Official Food and Beverage (F&B) Partner of the Movistar Arena Colombia with 12 points for sales.

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