World-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind to design new Tampere Central Arena

Finland’s second largest indoor arena to seat more than 12,000 spectators; it is to be used for 2013 Ice Hockey World Championships

Daniel Libeskind

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Plans for Tampere’s new multi-purpose arena that is to be built above the existing railroad track near the city's main railway station are one step closer to being implemented.
     
It is already known that the Central Arena, which will be almost the same size as the Helsinki Hartwall Arena, will be round. Trains will run below the building, while a parking house will be built below the the deck that is to connect the Arena to the nearby Sori Bridge. The deck will include both business premises and apartment buildings.
      World-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, chosen to design the Arena, suggests that the sculptural facades could be covered with various kinds of wooden surfaces. On the roof, the architect would place a turf lawn.
      It is also known already that ice hockey matches at the Arena will have seats for almost 12,000 spectators, while rock concerts will offer seating for close to 15,000 fans.
      Rikard Bjurström, who runs the project, believes that there will be enough visitors. Two-thirds of Finns live within a radius of 180 kilometres from Tampere, which is the same as a couple of hours by car or train.
      Another fact that has come to light is that the Central Arena will cost approximately EUR 95 million, while the budget for the annexed parking house is EUR 12.5 million. The City of Tampere has already promised an amount of EUR 19 million for the project.
     
Tampere Central Arena Ltd. will soon submit an application to the Ministry of Education, asking for a state subsidy of more than EUR 10 million. However, the Ministry has thus far reserved an appropriation of only EUR 1 to 2.5 million, which will be divided between several projects.
      ”Several private investors have already made a commitment, but we will be able to draw up contracts only after a city plan and a building permit have both been secured”, Bjurström notes.
     
The matter is urgent, as construction work should commence next autumn at the latest. The new Tampere Central Arena is expected to be completed in time for the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2013.
      Tampere is to publish a draft city plan on Thursday, and Deputy Mayor Timo Hanhilahti estimates that the City Council would confirm it in the spring of 2011. Hanhilahti believes that potential complaints against the city plan will be overcome.
      ”We can always ask the court for permission to begin, if the complaints are not relevant”, Hanhilahti notes.
     
     
WHO IS DANIEL LIBESKIND?
      Polish-born Daniel Libeskind became a United states citizen in 1965. After first studying mathematics, the art of painting, and philosophy, he eventually started to study architecture, receiving his professional architectural degree in 1970.
      In 1989 Libeskind’s first major success was his victory in the design competition for the Jewish Museum in Berlin, completed in 1999.
      The architect became a world-renowned star in 2003 when he won the design competition for New York’s Ground Zero area that had been destroyed by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
      Since then Studio David Libeskind has designed several art museums, music halls, and office buildings. The studio is currently working on around 40 skyscraper projects.


Links:
  Daniel Libeskind (Wikipedia)
  Studio Daniel Libeskind homepage
  Tampere Central Arena

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