Climate Pledge Arena

IIt was built back in 1962, but due to the appearance of the NHL team in Seattle, in 2018 it was reconstructed through the complete demolition of the facility. After reconstruction, the NHL club Seattle Kraken performs in the 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.

INNOVATION. 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.

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.

The new venue pushes the boundaries on other visual aspects as well. Unlike other arena video displays, Climate Pledge Arena boasts the world’s first dual suspended professional arena scoreboards. Behind this signature design lies a thorough analysis of on-ice and on-court action for hockey and basketball, spectator and athlete sightlines, and flexibility for shows and concerts. This placement bolsters the fan experience and connects the audience to the action of faceoffs, free throws and inbounding plays. There are 59 luxury suites, 19 of which are tunnel club suites situated under the seating bowl, giving fans a close-up view of the players as they walk from the locker room to the ice or court.

The arena is also designed to employ numerous sustainable practices and operations. The facility is powered solely on renewable energy sources, including on-site solar energy on the atrium roof. The site design builds strong connections with the monorail and provides space for electric vehicle charging stations and bike valet services. The design also supports water conservation systems — such as harvesting rainwater from the roof to turn it into the greenest ice in the NHL — and zero waste initiatives. The venue is home to a 200-foot living wall with greenery hanging overhead, an Amazon vision that Populous brought to life. The space also features an LED wall that details the importance of developing a zero carbon arena.

IMPACT. Climate Pledge Arena is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most significant private investments in sports and entertainment history. The Populous design challenges the status quo to create a functional and iconic arena from the videoboards to the expansive, universally accessible outdoor plaza. It also contributes to a critical movement within the industry to transition the built environment from a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions to a central solution to the climate crisis. These sustainable design strategies and ambitious targets set a new bar for the global sports and events industry.

Sports complex located in Seattle, Washington.

History

It was built back in 1962, but due to the appearance of the NHL team in Seattle, in 2018 it was reconstructed through the complete demolition of the facility. After reconstruction, the NHL club Seattle Kraken performs in the arena.

Interesting Facts

In 2020, Amazon acquired the rights to the arena's name and gave it its current name, Climate Pledge Arena.

This is how Amazon called its program to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The building itself is very technological and environmentally friendly, electricity is generated by a large number of solar panels, and rainwater is used to fill the ice. It is also planned that 75% of the food sold in the arena will be locally produced. The leftovers will be distributed to those in need after the event. Also, in order to reduce the use of a private car, on the days of events at the arena, it is planned to use a ticket for travel by public transport.