ShoWare Center

Home of the Seattle Thunderbirds

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The design creates a vibrant community presence and enriches the drama of the event experience. Luminous “energy lines” reach out from the arena to define radial paths of entry. Sloping soffits of polished stainless steel at the perimeter of the glass lobby reflect patron activity, graphics, and lighting— amplifying the excitement.

Home to the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team, ShoWare Center provides optimum flexibility to serve a diverse range of sports, trade shows and entertainment events. Extensive daylighting and visual interconnectivity differentiate ShoWare Center from the typical inward-oriented event center. Continuous ground level glazing and upper level carved openings animate the composition of seating bowl, concourse and roof structure elements. Airplane hangar doors are employed as operable shutters at the upper concourse to engage the entry forecourt and provide majestic views of Mt. Rainier.

ShoWare Center is the first new-construction event center projects in the country designed to LEED Gold certification. Sustainable elements include a variety of water conservation measures that will reduce water usage by 40%; energy smart heating and cooling systems that will reduce energy consumption by 37%; and extensive daylighting of concourses and other public areas outside of the seating bowl.

Location

Kent, Washington

Status

Completed 2009

Size

154,400 sf; 6,025-seat arena

Associate Architect

PBK Architects

LMN Architects