Renderings Reveal NBA Clippers’ $1B Arena
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2019
The National Basketball Association has recently revealed renderings of the new Los Angeles Clippers’ Inglewood, California-based arena through an official release.
Priced at $1.1 billion, the Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Center is expected to break ground in 2021 and reach competition by 2024 (the same time the Clippers’ lease at Staples ends).
About the Project
First announced in February, the NBA team put out the call for three contractors to build the new privately funded arena and mixed-use project. However, responses to the new development weren’t all welcoming.
Clippers unveil renderings of proposed arena https://t.co/WP5e8o76gV pic.twitter.com/1VF0Ia2qWV
— ESPNOC (@ESPNLosAngeles) July 26, 2019
In fact, a lawsuit was filed by Madison Square Garden Entertainment—who owns the nearby Forum venue—claiming that if the Clippers built an arena, it would violate a development agreement with the city. As a response, the Clippers filed a countersuit asking the court to validate its negotiating agreement with Inglewood, which refers to a $1.5 million three-year understanding with the city for the exploration of 46 acres of land. According to reports, about 27 acres would be returned to the city.
The project was also sued by the Uplight Inglewood Coalition on allegations that the deal violated California state law: more specifically, the California Surplus Land Act, which requires that public land be prioritized for affordable housing developments.
Fast forwarding to current time and despite of the backlash, Clippers chairman Steve Ballmer announced that the city would be moving forward with the 900,000-square-foot NBA arena. During construction the project is estimated to create 10,000 jobs and more than 1,500 permanent jobs once completed. Local hire components for the work are expected to make up 30% of the construction jobs available, while 35% of available arena jobs will also be filled by local residents.
“Inglewood is a diverse, dynamic community blessed with a skilled workforce, emerging infrastructure and a bold economic blueprint for the future,” said Gillian Zucker, Clippers President of Business Operations.
“In addition to the thousands of jobs this facility will create for the local community, we are equally committed to working with our new neighbors in the continuing renaissance developing in the City of Inglewood.”
While the arena’s design has been created and revealed by AECOM, Anderson Baker Architects and City Design Studios of Los Angeles are reported to be designing the plaza buildings. Hood Studios of California will be providing the landscape architecture.
After completion the complex is expected to generate roughly $286 million in annual economic activity in addition to $190 million in new tax revenue from 2020-45. The revenue is slated to help support various city services such as schools, libraries and parks, as well as police and fire stations.
About the Design
Inspired by a basketball net, the new arena will feature a three-dimensional oval-shape covered in a mixture of diamond-shaped solar panel tiles and metal cladding system. The system was chosen to contribute to the arena’s LEED Gold certification and status as a net-zero emitter of greenhouse gases. Plans to achieve this status also include a combination of carbon offset credits and sustainable design features.
The Clippers have unveiled renderings for a new arena in Inglewood. ??
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) July 26, 2019
(Via @LAClippers) pic.twitter.com/WKtLMuxpcb
“My goal is simple. I want the Clippers to have the best home in all of sports,” said Ballmer. “What that means to me is an unparalleled environment for players, for fans, for sponsors and for the community of Inglewood. Our goal is to build a facility that resets fans’ expectations while having a transformative impact on the city we will call home.”
According to the Clippers’ website, the arena will house up to 18,500 seats and include what are being called “sky gardens,” which are indoor/outdoor food and drink areas, available from every concourse.
Separate from the arena itself, but located on the 26 acres allocated for the project, will be an additional multi-purpose plaza, which is slated to be home to the team’s headquarters, a training facility, sports medicine clinic, concert stage, an outdoor game-viewing area complete with a supersized LED screen, community basketball courts, parks, educational facilities, restaurants and various retail spaces.
“We challenged the architects and designers on this project to create a landmark facility that exceeds current environmental standards and they have surpassed expectations,” said Chris Meany of Wilson Meany—the project’s developer.
“The new Clippers arena demonstrates that environmental protection and economic development need not be mutually exclusive.”
Tagged categories: Architects; Architecture; Cladding; Color + Design; Commercial / Architectural; Design; Design - Commercial; Design build; Energy efficiency; Maintenance + Renovation; Metal cladding; Net Zero Energy ; Project Management; Solar energy; Stadiums/Sports Facilities; Upcoming projects
