The venue, which was unveiled last week by the London-based firm, forms one part of the multi-billion pound Qiddiya entertainment ‘giga-project’ under development near Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
Populous designs feature a 5,155-seat venue with one of the world’s largest combined total areas of video screens, plus a ‘digital chandelier’ above the main seating auditorium.
Haptic – or sensory – seating alongside world-class audio-visual capabilities and engineered sightlines will create a ‘fully immersive and ever-changing experience for visitors’, the practice says.
Two concourses will wrap around the main auditorium, offering breakout zones for gaming, a food court and retail outlets.
An ‘immersive entertainment zone’ will include self-checkout markets and gaming bars at what Populous describes as the world’s first ‘esports district’.
Rhys Courtney, senior principal at Populous, said: ‘We are proud to have been able to combine our extensive knowledge of esports facilities and technology with Qiddiya’s vision to create a world-leading arena for competitors and fans alike. This arena will be unique in esports in both scale and user experience.’
As the AJ reported in 2019, Populous was named among several British and international practices picked for the job of designing elements of Qiddiya, a 3,400ha multi-billion pound entertainment ‘giga-project’ near Riyadh.
Names included WilkinsonEyre, Mangera Yvars Architects, Steve Chilton Architects, HOK and the London office of BIG, as well as Buro Ole Scheeren, MAD, Snøhetta, Arquitectonica, Morphosis, Coop Himmelb(l)au, 5+, CTRKL, Rockwell Group, Asymptote, Rosetti Architects, 10 Design and local firms Dar Al Omran and X Architects.
Around 21 firms in total were thought to have been invited to participate in commissions for a performing arts centre, stadium, arena, a resort parking area, a speed park stadium and hotel, a shopping, dining and entertainment area, an arts complex, an ice arena and festival ground, atrium space;, an aquatics centre, the Qiddiya bridge and a grand mosque.
Qiddiya is a part of Saudi Arabia’s development drive, Vision 2030, along with the Atkins-designed 400m-tall cube-shaped skyscraper, the Mukaab, and the controversial NEOM development, which includes proposed 170km-long linear city The Line.