YTL Arena Bristol announces design team

It has been confirmed that, after a rigorous selection process, Grimshaw Architects in partnership with MANICA Architecture have been engaged to deliver an arena for Bristol by repurposing the Brabazon hangars at the former Filton airfield.

The team driving forward plans to create a new arena and put Bristol on the world stage have also appointed landscape architects Grant Associates and planning consultants Avison Young to help support them through the planning process, as well as structural and technical engineers, and specialist consultants.

YTL Arena Bristol Managing Director, Andrew Billingham, said:

We are very excited to announce our design team. This represents a very positive step forward for us. We are now working up our firm proposals to repurpose the Brabazon hangars to create a visionary arena that will put Bristol on the world stage.

Internationally-renowned architecture, design and planning firm, Grimshaw Architects, bring with them a wealth of knowledge and expertise having worked on the award-winning Eden Project, the Thermae Bath Spa in Bath, Wimbledon, and is currently working on The Engine Shed 2 in Bristol, as well as the Stadium for Bath project. 

As a practice that operates worldwide, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Melbourne, Bristol and Sydney, employing over 600 staff, they are well placed to design a visionary arena that will reflect and celebrate the city’s heritage and character. 

Grimshaw will be working in partnership with MANICA Architecture, with offices in Kansas City, London and Hong Kong.

MANICA Architecture are industry leaders in next-generation arenas and stadia, having recently designed the Chase Center in San Francisco, home of the NBA Golden State Warriors, as well as the Las Vegas NFL Stadium, the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders, and the recently completed VTB Arena Park in Moscow, Russia. 

Billingham, added:

YTL Arena will not be working in isolation: partnerships with other businesses are an essential part of our business strategy – bringing the individual, urban character of the city into the venue. The arena will also form part of a wider transformation of the former Filton airfield. Called Brabazon, the airfield will become a thriving new neighbourhood for Bristol neighbourhood with more than 2,600 homes, creative workplaces and a vibrant town centre set amongst landscaped public squares and parkland. 

The arena project team aims to submit a full planning application in the coming months. 

About YTL

YTL Developments – Filton Airfield

The 380 acres of the former Filton Airfield will become a new urban community: the masterplan set out by YTL Developments will deliver more than 2,600 homes, creative workplaces and a vibrant town centre set amongst landscaped public squares and parkland. At the same time, more than GB£100m is being invested to improve local infrastructure: a new railway station will connect to Bristol Temple Meads in less than 15 minutes and a dedicated Metrobus will run straight to the city centre.

Design Team

Grimshaw – Architects

Grimshaw is an award-winning, international architectural practice with offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne and Sydney employing over 650 staff. The practice’s international portfolio covers all major sectors and has been honoured with over 200 international design awards including the prestigious Lubetkin Prize. 

Grimshaw is dedicated to the deepest level of involvement in the design of their buildings in order to deliver projects which meet the highest possible standards of excellence. The company’s work is characterised by strong conceptual legibility, innovation and a rigorous approach to detailing, all underpinned by the principles of humane, enduring and sustainable design. Grimshaw’s broad international portfolio includes the iconic Eden project, Bath School of Art and Design, JFK Airport, and Fulton Street station.

MANICA Architecture

MANICA Architecture provides its clients with the unique combination of large scale project experience and the personality and creativity of a boutique international design studio. Unlike many large architectural firms that specialize in projects of similar scale, MANICA is dedicated to ensuring that all of its clients are given the personal attention and unparalleled expertise they deserve.

Avison Young – Planning consultants

Avison Young is the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate advisory firm with over 5,000 real estate professionals in 120 offices across 20 countries. Their aim is simple; for real estate to play a leading role in helping to develop vibrant cities that deliver long-lasting social, economic and environmental impacts, as well as commercial value for clients. They achieve this by thinking innovatively to address challenges and drive new opportunities, wherever in the property lifecycle they are advising.

As a multi-disciplinary practice, Avison Young’s breadth and depth is seen in their ability to provide a full scope of services for public and private sector throughout the lifecycle of a development project. Their consultancy and agency teams work collaboratively to unlock complex development projects that not only need a clear planning approach but must also be supplemented with commercial, viability and property advice. Their advice is rooted in a solid understanding of their local, regional and national market, and multidisciplinary technical expertise. Avison Young acquired GVA in February 2019.

Grant Associates – Landscape architects

Grant Associates is an international landscape architecture consultancy inspired by the creative possibilities of sustainable landscapes and driven by the desire to connect people and nature. Their work fuses nature and technology in imaginative ways to create cutting-edge designs guided by a concern for the environment and a desire to enhance people’s quality of life.

Grant Associates has experience in all scales and types of ecological and landscape development including strategic landscape planning, master planning, urban design and regeneration and landscapes for parks, housing, education, sport, recreation, visitor attractions and commerce.

Hoare Lea – Engineering consultancy

Hoare Lea is an award-winning engineering consultancy with a creative team of engineers, designers and technical specialists. The practice provides innovative solutions to complex engineering and design challenges for buildings.
Irrespective of the scale or complexity of a project, Hoare Lee provides a full range of MEP, environmental and sustainability services, bringing buildings to life and ensuring that they perform in operation as well as they look.

As the UK’s largest MEP Engineering Consultancy, Hoare Lee are building on more than 150 years of proud heritage. With its Bristol office established more than 60 years ago, they are proud to now have more than 100 qualified MEP engineers based here, along with ever-growing specialist teams spanning everything from acoustics and lighting design to sustainability.

Momentum – Transport consultants

Momentum Transport Consultancy is one of the UK’s most highly regarded transport planning consultancies, specialising in global sports stadia and major events. They have unparalleled experience in the stadia and major events industry, contributing to venue planning, operations, design and modelling for over 30 venues worldwide, including some of the largest and most well-known venues in the UK.

Mott MacDonald

Opening opportunities with connected thinking, Mott MacDonald is a US$2bn engineering, management and development consultancy. They’re involved in: solving some of the world’s most urgent social, environmental and economic challenges; helping governments and businesses plan, deliver and sustain their strategic goals; responding to humanitarian and natural emergencies; and improving people’s lives.

Their expertise by sector includes buildings, communications, defence, education, environment, health, industry, mining, oil and gas, power, transport, urban development, water, wastewater and more. Their skills encompass planning, studies and design, project finance, technical advisory services, project and programme management, management consultancy and beyond. For every project, Mott MacDonald creates the blend of talent needed to create the right result – appropriate; cost, carbon and resource-efficient; safe, easy and swift to deliver and operate; reliable and resilient; delivering great outcomes. Some notable projects include Wembley Stadium, the Adelaide Oval in Australia, and Alexandra Palace in London, UK,.

OPS Structures – structural engineers

The team has worked in close collaboration with the University of Bath and major UK technical and professional institutions over a number of years, providing technical input into standards and guides and shaping the future of structural engineering. Through this work, the team has had access to the most up-to-date research and technical standards, whilst still in their development stages (and prior to publication), giving the team the opportunity to adopt new ways of working. As a consequence, OPS will continue to design buildings and drive an interest in creating economical and efficient buildings using the very latest materials and techniques.

Facade engineering is a key to the success of most new buildings and has become the pinnacle of design, requiring skills in engineering, architecture and manufacturing in all materials from stainless steel, and aluminium through to glass. The team is delighted to be able to offer these services to their clients.

Concept images, courtesy: YTL

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Increasing revenue through new builds, renovations and service expansions, as well as through the utilisation of the latest F&B trends and technology offerings, is the focus of ALSD International – Europe’s leading conference and exhibition for the Premium Seat & Hospitality sector – coming to Croke Park Stadium this October, 28-29, with behind-the-scenes tours of 3Arena and Aviva Stadium.

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