Hinge Arena

exterior view

east elevation

south elevation

interior view, arena side entrance

interior view, arena seating, basketball setting

basketball setting

hockey setting

Marcel Erminy Studio_305_Spring 2008
Texas A&M University College of Architecture

Hinge Arean/College Station, Texas

introduction/Architectural Design Studio project sponsored by HKS. Tasked to design a 7,500 seat arena to house basketball, hockey, and convention activities. The site of the theoretical arena sits at a prominent intersection near the Texas A&M campus in College Station, Texas. The design focuses specifically on the function: providing proper space to play and watch basketball and hockey, and transitioning between basketball and hockey.  Along with sporting events, the arena would also serve as convention space, a restaurant/cafe, as well as office space. Procession, and creating dynamic gathering spaces and facades were also given high priority in the design process.

skin/The entire arena space is enclosed by a space frame skin which creates a self-containing wall and roof system. This diamond space frame skin allows for a window (i.e. a puncture in the skin) to happen anywhere along the façade simply by changing the exterior cladding to a translucent material. If the material is able to change properties, or from opaque to translucent, the façade could then change itself and allow sunlight into the arena only where necessary. The entire space frame façade of the arena could then be entirely dynamic, based on lighting, temperature, and weather conditions.

performance/In a typical arena it takes several hours to switch from one sport to another, and it takes an army of workers to assemble and disassemble risers, chairs, ect. Arena on a Hinge looks to solve this problem with brains rather than muscle. Through a simple pulley system, an entire section of seating can be lifted up and out of the way, and the floors can be switched, making for a quick transition time, and without the costly employ of an army of workers.

program/The arena has been divided into two general parts: arena seating, and operations. Each of these general parts manifests itself in a different way on the form of the arena. The arena houses the grand stand, hinge seating sections, and, obviously, the event floor. The operations end of the building is housed in an entirely separate building (both structurally and aesthetically), which has been named “The Edifice”.

The seating and floor space is contained within the diamond space frame skin which allows for super long spans without the need for view-obstructing columns. The arena entrance is directly off a long green space to the south of the building. In order to create a unique sense of place, procession of the spectator is taken into account. There are ample green spaces all around the building and site which provide for both large and smaller park-like settings where users can relax and enjoy a relaxed Texas afternoon before moving into the arena to watch the event. Unlike most large arenas, there are no gates of entrance, there are digital ticket scanners set up at all the entrances providing for a more fluid transition into the arena. Once inside the arena, the user is presented with a long open space and multiple ramps. Ascending the ramps, along with the multitude of other spectators, prepares the user for the event and enhances the sense of place. The ramps connect to the upper concourse which, in turn, is connected to the grand stand and the upper levels of the Edifice.

The operations side of the arena (team preparation areas, event boxes, restaurant/cafe, offices, media center, and storage and maintenance) is housed in a much more traditional form of architecture. The Edifice operates on a full-time basis (whereas the arena is only open to the public at specific times). Team facilities and storage and maintenance were placed below grade and have a seperate entrance specifically for team members, event staff, and equipment. On the first and second levels (above the afforementioned “below grade” level) a restaurant/cafe opens up to a entrance lobby and overlooks the event floor. A media center and merchandise shop can also be found on the first two levels. The third and fourth levels are comprised of compartmentalized event viewing boxes for individual parties. The first through fourth levels are all serviced by a glass elevator that jutisons up through the large slanted glass wall and connects to the second, third, and fourth floors by a set of sky walks. The top two levels (levels five and six) are office spaces which can be reached from the first level via a seperate entrance lobby and elevator system. The offices are organized as either having an exterior view, looking out over the intersection and Texas A&M campus in the distance, or an interior view looking down into the arena and grand stand.

The more conservative façade of the Edifice faces the intersection, while the modern diamond space frame façade faces the greenery and parking areas.

circulation/While the spectators processional circulation is more or less restricted to the ramps and concourse, freedom of movement is encouraged in this design. Upper and lower level concourses attach the arena end with the Edifice, allowing free movement between the two sides. The movement from exterior to interior or vice versa is unhindered by long lines at ticket boothes or gates, and for a typical spectator the only restriction of movement is down to the team facilities, or up to the office space.