Project Description

O2 Arena, Greenwich

Client
Anschutz Entertainment Group

Design
HOK Sport

Contractor
Sir Robert McAlpine

New  stand alone arena built within the existing Millennium Dome, providing a fully international standard multi-event centre which is the most technically and acoustically advanced concert venue in Europe, capable of accommodating sporting and entertainment events, exhibitions and shows. It has seating capacity for 22,000 with 96 private suites.

Successful construction of an entire building within an existing structure necessitated consideration of buildability from the outset, particularly with respect to the 4,000t roof which has only 4m clearance from the Dome’s fabric roof. Other challenges were to build the Arena within a much tighter budget than the Client’s ‘Staples Centre’ in Los Angeles, on which it was modelled and to have the Arena ready on time for its first fixture.

The O2 Arena is the world’s only music venue to have won ‘International Arena of the Year’ in the Pollstar Awards for 4 years running’ since it opened in June 2007.

The venue has won multiple awards including Favourite Venue of the Year at the TPI Awards, Top Arena in the World at the Billboard Awards and Venue of the Year at the TESA Awards.

The arena will host the rhythmic gymnastics at the 2012 Olympic Games.

WT Partnership provided Employer’s Agent, Quantity Surveying and CDM Coordinator services. Since consulting on the Arena WT Partnership have worked with the Anschutz Entertainment Group on a number of other projects in the Greenwich area.