Wanda Jinan Basketball Ice Hockey Arena: A Fusion of Modernity and Tradition

Tengfei Chu's Award-Winning Design Marries Sports and Culture in a Landmark Arena

The Wanda Jinan Basketball Ice Hockey Arena is a testament to Tengfei Chu's innovative approach to design. Drawing inspiration from nature, specifically the spring season in Jinan, Chu has crafted an architectural marvel that not only serves as a sports facility but also as a cultural landmark. The arena's skin, made of curved horizontal louvers, mirrors the running springs, while its streamlined facade embodies the energy of sports activities. This unique design eliminates the spatial pressure of the architecture on its surroundings, making it a perfect fit for the city's atmosphere and culture.

What sets this design apart is its ability to accommodate 10,000 spectators and serve the highest standards of basketball or ice hockey competitions. The arena covers a total area of 55,000 square meters, with four floors above the ground. The dome spans 150 meters in length and 130 meters in width. When all temporary seats are removed, the field area measures 44.4 meters by 77.2 meters, allowing it to host other sports such as badminton, volleyball, ping pong, handball, and gymnastics.

The arena's design is a product of meticulous research and innovative thinking. Chu and his team collected, analyzed, and compared built Basketball and Ice Hockey Arena precedents worldwide, studying the requirements of all categories of relevant games. They also considered the local natural environment and cultural geography of the region, incorporating elements of local culture and traditions into the modern architecture. The design also incorporates sustainable tactics, reflecting a commitment to environmental friendliness and energy saving.

The construction of the arena presented several challenges. To achieve the gradient skin, each panel of the louvers had to be a different size and fixed at varied angles. The arena also needed to accommodate both ice hockey and basketball games, requiring a high level of precision in construction. Despite these challenges, Chu and his team successfully realized their vision, creating an arena that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

This design masterpiece has not gone unnoticed. The Wanda Jinan Basketball Ice Hockey Arena was awarded Silver in the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2018. This prestigious award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation. With this recognition, Tengfei Chu's design has indeed set a new standard in the field of architecture and design.