Climate Pledge Arena

from MONDO | STADIA - Issue 25 - August | September

by Mondiale Media

Terrie Smith, DIGISEQ

Seattle, USA

Images: Climate Pledge Arena, Daktronics, Powersoft, Barco, Jones Sign

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hen the City of Seattle set out to reimagine and redevelop the historic landmark originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair, not many would have expected such a bold, first-of-its-kind venue. However, the Climate Pledge Arena is just that. Climate Pledge Arena is the region’s largest arena — an entirely new venue built under an existing roof — that 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, its sustainable design approach meets 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. Populous collaborated with the owners, a public-private partnership between Oak View Group, Seattle Kraken Hockey and Seattle Center, as well as project manager CAA ICON and construction partner MA Mortenson to bring the sustainable design and historic vision to life. The Populous design enabled the 740,000-square-foot arena to employ numerous sustainable practices and operations. The arena relies solely on renewable energy sources — including on-site solar energy designed on the atrium roof — to power the facility. Populous contributed to a fully-integrated transportation plan that subsidizes mass transit for fans. The site design provides space for electric vehicle charging stations and bike valet services, while also building strong connections with the monorail. Populous designed the facility to support water conservation systems — such as harvesting rainwater from the roof to turn it into the greenest ice in the NHL — and zero waste initiatives. These sustainable design strategies set a new bar for the global sports and events industry. This multifunctional venue in the heart of Seattle Center harkens back to its original facility, which was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. The design was centred on revitalising the landmark arena, and honouring its original design intent while activating and enhancing a pedestrian-focused plan. The former arena was a flat-floor, column-free pavilion with an entirely glass façade allowing visitors to see inside. Populous’ design preserves many of these character-defining features and draws from the firm’s vast experience of creating meaningful spaces for people to gather. In addition to the challenge of designing a carbon neutral arena, Populous was challenged to maintain the preservation of the 59-year-old historic roof designed by Paul Thiry, the father of architectural modernism in the Pacific Northwest. The new construction required the 44-million-pound roof to be suspended above the site while the new arena was built underneath. To increase the size of the arena to 740,000 square feet — approximately twice the size of the former venue — and give the venue 360-degree pedestrian access, it was necessary to dig 16 feet deeper than the previous 1995 renovation that

POPULOUS

bottomed out at 38 feet below ground level, and significantly expand the below-grade building footprint in all directions. In addition, a historic glass curtain wall was preserved in the new arena’s north end, presenting visitors with a view to the plaza. “Populous has designed the most beautiful arena in the world, and the Kraken are proud to call it home,” said Tod Leiweke, CEO of the Seattle Kraken. “We’re excited for fans to walk into Climate Pledge Arena on game day and be blown away by its beauty and have a first-class experience while cheering on their favourite players.” Populous also designed an expansive and universallyaccessible outdoor plaza to surround the arena, providing year-round open and green space within the Seattle Center campus. With 360 degrees of landscaped plazas surrounding the venue, effectively placing the arena within a picturesque landscaped park — a first for an urban professional arena in the United States — Climate Pledge Arena is more accessible to all, links local neighbourhoods, and restores the original relationship between surrounding plazas and the building. Populous collaborated with a diverse group of Pacific Northwest artists to coordinate eight unique public art installations for the plazas, establishing playful touch points for community engagement year-round. Populous’ design also preserves the site’s longest-living tenants: 67 London Plane trees that hold landmark status from the 1962 World’s Fair. These trees maintain a massive canopy on the site, aid in carbon capture and connect surrounding neighbourhoods with the expansive Seattle Center campus. Populous worked with more than 30 corporate partners to create uniquely-branded spaces throughout Climate Pledge Arena. With Amazon’s naming rights to the arena, the venue features grab-and-go and self-checkout markets, and four innovative food and beverage environments featuring Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ technology. These spaces offer graphics and branding opportunities customized to specific partners. The clubs and premium spaces are also branded, from the event-level Verizon Lounge that features artwork and lighting to reflect the network’s coverage, to the entire PitchBook level of the arena, which includes original art as well as data-inspired graphics to communicate PitchBook’s brand identity. Each level of Climate Pledge Arena has a different colour of wayfinding signage, which harkens to natural features as the levels go deeper underground — from the light blue on the top level to mimic the atmosphere, to a muted orange to reflect the earth on the main concourse level, to a dark gray for the lower level. The arena boasts 28,175 square feet of digital signage, the most in the world for a sports and entertainment venue. The immersive LED experience throughout the user journey displays wayfinding, events and partner promotion, and atmospheric imagery that is customisable for each event. The Climate Pledge brand is further strengthened through a 200-foot living wall with live plants and LED activations on the main concourse — a vision that Amazon and Populous brought to life — creating social media-friendly content opportunities. Egress tunnels and other LED displays throughout the arena blur the lines between the structure and the outdoors with graphic imagery. “Creating the world’s best live entertainment building while celebrating an important and cherished landmark is what sets Climate Pledge Arena apart,” said Populous’ Senior Principal and Architect, Chris Carver. “We are proud to have created an industry-leading design that fits with the vision of our partners at Oak View Group and the City of Seattle to be a benchmark for venues to come.”

DAKTRONICS

As professional hockey returns to Seattle, Daktronics, in conjunction with the Oak View Group, were chosen to manufacture and install 224 LED displays at Climate Pledge Arena. The installation features 28,175 square feet of digital signage totalling more than 145 million pixels and dual hanging display configurations featuring 2,720 square feet each. No sporting venue in the world has more LED displays, including 173 displays outside the main seating bowl of the arena. “Daktronics is elevating our fan experience with the most LED displays ever installed at a sports venue,” said Seattle Kraken SVP, Entertainment Experience & Presentation Jonny Greco. “With all those pixels it is imperative we think of the guest journey from the minute they set foot on the Seattle Center Campus all the way to sitting in their seats at Climate Pledge Arena. Having a world-class sports entertainment facility under a historic roof allows us to find a happy fusion of tradition and technology.” Unlike any other arena video display, the industry’s first dual suspended arena scoreboards are a signature element of Climate Pledge Arena. Behind this new 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. The result is a pair of distinctly-shaped video displays that place digital content in an ideal location for spectators, improving the atmosphere and connection between fans on opposite sides of the seating bowl. Setting this forwardthinking design innovation under the historic roof honours the legacy of the building, which was to showcase futuristic ideas and exhibits as part of the “World of Tomorrow” theme of the 1962 World’s Fair. These configurations each form a triangular shape with three displays each – two sideline-facing displays and one endfacing, curved display. Both end displays measure roughly 25 feet high by 46 feet wide and the four sideline displays measure roughly 23 feet high by 43 feet wide. Each hanging display configuration forms 2,720 square feet of digital space to show live video, instant replays, statistics and game information, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages. “The dual scoreboards are one of the many examples of innovation in fan experience incorporated into Climate Pledge Arena,” said Populous Principal, Geoff Cheong. “Our partners

at Oak View Group wanted a world-class, iconic experience, and these unique displays will undoubtedly contribute to that. These are unexpected, incredibly dynamic and will allow fans to consume digital content in an entirely new way. They are the centrepieces to an entertainment experience unlike any other.” Four ribbon displays totaling 2,160 linear feet, 32 vomitory displays above the entrances and exits of the seating bowl, four basket stanchion displays, three digital scorers tables and two dasher boards provide supplemental digital content and information throughout events. All displays in this area of the arena are HDR capable. “With 224 displays, audiences will be immersed in the experience from the moment that they arrive and entertained throughout every event held at Climate Pledge Arena,” said Daktronics President and CEO, Reece Kurtenbach. “This installation will be an icon for the Pacific Northwest. We’re excited to install the LED technology to engage their audiences and to help usher men’s professional hockey back to the city of Seattle.” Throughout the concourses and atriums of the arena, 100 LED displays are installed in varying locations and configurations to enhance the fan experience. These displays total 13,175 square feet and feature 2.5- and 3.9-millimeter pixel spacings. This includes a large column wrap, atrium bridge displays, The Climate Pledge Living Wall feature and east concourse picture frame features. Outside of the arena, 51 LED displays totalling 3,830 square feet are installed to communicate with people as they pass by and audiences as they arrive for events. These outdoor plaza displays brand the facility immediately upon arrival and parking displays give direction to help with the flow of traffic. These displays feature 3.9- and 5.9-millimeter pixel spacings. Daktronics has also integrated a custom control solution including Show Control and Camino products. This industryleading system provides a combination of display control software, world-class video processing, data integration and playback hardware that forms a user-friendly production solution.

EXPERIENCE THE DAKTRONICS Difference

“Daktronics is elevating our fan experience with the most LED displays ever installed at a sports venue. With all those pixels it is imperative we think of the guest journey from the moment they arrive to sitting in their seats at Climate Pledge Arena. Having a worldclass sports entertainment facility under a historic roof allows us to find a happy fusion of tradition and technology.”

Seattle Kraken SVP Entertainment Experience & Production Jonny Greco

Scan the QR Code to learn more about the integrated LED and content system from Daktronics at Climate Pledge Arena.

JONES SIGN

Jones Sign Company assisted in brightening the Seattle skyline with the installation of a four-sided building sign for the new Climate Pledge Arena. The “crown ID” was installed with the assistance of a Blackhawk helicopter atop the landmark 1962 World’s Fair roof, which will covers the arena on the Seattle Center campus. Since 1910, Jones Sign Company has provided industryleading design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of signage, lighting and architectural elements – making them the perfect partner for Climate Pledge Arena’s new sign. With a commitment to sustainability to match the long-term goals of Climate Pledge Arena, Jones Sign manufactured and installed the more than 12-tonne sign in alignment with the arena’s zero-carbon mission. In particular, the new crown ID is illuminated using faux-neon LED lighting, which uses 60 percent less power than a traditional neon sign of similar scale. “Neonis an energy hog and high maintenance because you have to change out the lights,” said Jeff Goodfellow, Operations Manager for Jones Sign Reno. “LED will last tens of thousands of hours. This is a vanguard step for the Climate Pledge movement, rather than the signs of old. It’s better for the planet.” To create the faux-neon look, the insides of the letters were painted white to reflect light and then assembled in a sandwich-configuration, with one of the three other paint colours. With 14 locations across North America, a shorter-than-usual timeframe prompted Jones Sign to build the framework to hold the 72 letters at its Green Bay, WI headquarters and fabricate the letters at its plant outside Reno, NV. With a team of certified welders, Jones Sign was able to accommodate changes and deliver the sign in record time. Installation of the crown ID marked a milestone in the construction and development of the eagerly anticipated Climate Pledge Arena and its crowning sign. With its beaming letters visually nestled among snow-capped mountains and the Space Needle, the Climate Pledge Arena’s new crown ID has created an indelible impression on the Seattle skyline. “I didn’t realise the excitement level until I arrived in town,” said Bob Lepak, VP of Manufacturing and Installation for Jones Sign on the day the crown ID was installed. “I really started to get the vibe with people walking by the sign [stationed on the Fountain lawn]. I haven’t experienced people being so interested in the signs as this week and especially today. It’s a privilege to be part of it.”

BARCO

The team management group at Climate Pledge Arena, headed by Tod Leiweke, wanted to deliver a thrilling in-game entertainment experience to fans and ice projection was a must-have technology in the renovated arena. “Most new arenas want to have ice projection in their building if they’re doing hockey. Climate Pledge is a beautiful arena with lots of new technology and we wanted to include ice projection to create another sensory touch point for fans,” said Lamont Buford, VP, Entertainment Experience & Production, who alongside Jonny Greco, SVP, Entertainment, led the Kraken Hockey’s creative team. In addition to the Kraken’s creative team, Diversified, who delivered the design, installation and integration of the arena’s control room and AV systems, teamed with Barco on the prominent, high-quality ice-projection system. To create forever moments for Seattle Kraken games that get fans hyped up and the adrenaline flowing, twelve Barco 45,000 lumens and 40,000 lumens projectors are deployed for an incredible pre-game show titled Fear the Deep, as well as during intermission periods to keep fans engaged. Barco UDX-U45LC projectors are located in four zones, double stacked and project in 4:3 onto the ice, while UDX-W40 Flex units project in 16:9 onto the North Wall. “Our goal was to create a pre-game on-ice production that helps set the tone for the fans and showcased our region, as well as bringing out different emotions from individuals. Hockey is unique in the players go away after warmups, so we have these chunks of time where you can set the mood and the tone before the team comes out,” added Lamont. “Our building is subterranean and we use that as a narrative within the show that our arena descends into the deep. We wanted to create an on-ice projection experience that pull fans in and made everyone feel like they’re part of that underwater experience. It further emphasised the legend of the Kraken, a legendary sea monster of enormous size, living in the deep.” During the 15-minute intermissions between periods, the lights come down and the Barco projectors are used for on-ice fan entertainment. The Barco projectors are used in a multitude of fan entertainment activities, from a game

where the projectors display a race course on ice as contestants weave their way through on tricycles, to an “impossible shot” game where a fan is given the opportunity to win $500,000 by shooting the puck from one blue line into a small hole in the goal on the other side, and for a fans’ favourite game, Bingo, where the projectors are used to divided the ice into four sections as bingo cards. “The fans get really excited as the cards fill up on the ice and the winning card lights up on the ice,” explained Lamont. For the future, the Kraken is investigating utilising the projectors for more events. After an extensive evaluation period as well as from valuable input from Ayron Sequira, Sr. Director Entertainment Experience, the Barco projectors were selected for the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena on-ice projection show. “Prior relationships and experience with Barco coming through on other projects made teaming up with them again an easy choice,” said Jonny. “The Barco team wanted the Kraken to have the tools to tell our story and they were advocates for us through the entire process. The customer service from the Barco crew was more like a collaboration of creatives who wanted to see your vision come to life than a seller/buyer relationship.” Still, the arena posed some challenges for projection. Dean Roberts, Technical Operations Manager for Diversified, said: “It was a great challenge to project onto the shining ice as ice isn’t the best projection surface. The quality of video for the opening sequence is excellent as the Barco DLP projectors have everything we need – 4K resolution, 3D mapping, excellent colour spectrum and colour mapping, low latency and a wide range of lensing options. “The Barco projectors have many advantages for arena installations, from versatile rigging options with motorised pitch/roll/yaw adjustments to excellent warping and blending functionality. “This was the first year for the team and first year for the arena, so everything was so time compressed, especially at the beginning. It was amazing, even with the construction delays, that we pulled it off and got everything installed and operational before the opening of the season.” Jonny Greco added: “We were aspirational on many elements of our show and trying to come out with the show we envisioned was important. We wanted these projectors to look great, help carry the narrative and tie together with the abundant technology we had in our building in a unified signal flow to create something memorable. “Once we had projection installed and available to us for the show, it created an impactful additive element. When we had all systems go with our tentacle and wall and ice projection connected to our full light kit with our incredible sound, we had a really powerful, immersive Seattle sports fan experience.” Jonny concluded it would be hard not to go with Barco next time a big project shapes up on the horizon: “When you have a successful dance, you want to keep dancing with the people who got you there the first time. Barco delivered after setting realistic expectations, and when we had questions or concerns, always made themselves available as partners to help us all find success.”

IDIBRI | POWERSOFT | JBL

Idibri was brought in to provide high-quality audio in the arena’s suites to support bowl audio extension, background music and local television audio. David Battershell, Senior Consultant at idibri, a Salas O’Brien Company - and his team decided that Powersoft’s Mezzo compact amplifier platform would be an ideal fit for such a demanding application. David was the AV design consultant for the arena’s new construction, with Idibri acting as the AV component of a larger Populous design machine. “We thought that the Mezzo would be well-suited to being installed behind the televisions in each of the suites,” explained David. “We used them to provide an audio input for local TV audio, amplification for local speakers, and IP audio connection to the bowl audio feeds. Mezzo has the exact feature set that we wanted, as well as being very well-priced for such high quality.” Providing the same sound clarity, reliability and build quality of any Powersoft install amplifier in a ½ rack-unit form factor, Mezzo offers integrators an industry leading powerto-size ratio, meaning fewer amplifiers (with a smaller size) are required to run the same PA system, directly impacting CO2 emissions. The bowl audio feeds for the Seattle venue were designed to come from a single FOH console via Dante and stream to the Mezzo infrastructure, comprising 58 units. Local audio from TVs themselves were connected directly via the analogue inputs on the Mezzo units, while Bluetooth audio inputs (AtteroTech unD6IO-BT) were able to steam to Mezzo via Dante. David selected JBL speakers and a BSS London DSP system to complete the audio architecture at the arena. “Mezzo was something we have wanted for several years,” said David. “Powersoft heard our design requirements and delivered exactly what we needed.” Dave Curry, VP of Technology for Climate Pledge Arena, was also keen to voice his support for the Powersoft infrastructure deployed at the venue. Underlining the importance of high-quality AV systems when it comes to the fan experience, Curry said: “The Powersoft amplifiers give us total control over the individual level, EQ, and audio routing to each suite in the arena. “The Mezzo amplifier platforms have performed very well so far and the feedback from guests has been very positive. The quality of the sound system and acoustics in the arena are consistently complimented on guest surveys, and the Mezzo amplifiers are integral to smooth running of this system.”

MUSCO LIGHTING

In keeping with the plan, OVG and Climate Pledge Arena needed an LED sports lighting system that would be easy to use, easy to control, and economical in the long run. OVG researched various sports lighting manufacturers and ultimately chose Musco, with whom it had partnered on previous lighting projects. Musco’s TLC for LED® system included luminaire assemblies that were custom-mounted to Climate Pledge Arena’s sloping catwalks and factory-aimed to achieve the light levels required by both the NHL and NBA. The tunable fixtures’ colour temperature can be adjusted for each event, and the Show-Light® entertainment package allows custom light shows to be co-programmed with visiting entertainment acts. The new system helps Climate Pledge Arena live up to its name without compromising the player and fan experience, and Musco’s parts and labor warranty eliminates all maintenance costs through the year 2031. “In my world, Musco is the go-to for any project of this size. You have the corporate support, the institutional knowledge, and decades of experience, so going with Musco is natural,” said Randy Foster, Director of Production at Climate Pledge Arena. “The flexibility of the Musco system makes everyone’s job here easier, and the ability to change and reprogram on a dime is a game changer. Working with Musco has made opening an arena that much easier.”