Civic Sports Center and 2013 National Games Arena, Shenyang by Emergent

This Civic Sports Center and 2013 National Games Arena, designed by Emergent, will consist of two buildings interconnected to create a multi-storey complex, located at the heart of downtown Shenyang, in the Province of Liaoning, China. This complex will sit in a site adjacent to Zhongshan Park, and is announced to be a connector between the natural and urban life of the city.

Civic Sports Center and 2013 National Games Arena, Shenyang, China © Emergent

Patterns 
I am very intriguing by the façade based on, following the agency, crystal patterning that was found in nature at all scales.

Civic Sports Center and 2013 National Games Arena © Emergent

Precisely, this skin is a large membrane bubble windows creating a differentiated affect through this patterning, based on modules of semi-transparent and semi-opaque polyhedral cells.

Diagram © Emergent
> Semi-opaque polyhedral cells and semi-transparent polyhedral cells
are aggregated to form the pattern of the façade. This results of increasing
the differentiated affect.
The semi-opaque panels will be made out of aluminium panels
with thin-film solar technology in roof areas.
As for the semi-transparent bubble windows, they will be composed of
ETFE translucent bubbles, pressurized with air.

This screen is announced to have views out to the Park and the city. The patterning of the screen spreads out onto the metal panel façades of the building, erupting as zones of solar panels on the roof, the agency says.

Night view of the Civic Sports Center and 2013 National Games Arena © Emergent

Structure and Materials
The second important part of Emergent's design is the structure and materials. For the Recreation Center and Swimming Arenas, reinforced concrete frame and slab construction will be chosen for economy. Column-less spaces and increased beam depth will be used for certain areas such as the pools and large gaming courts.

Diagram © Emergent

Other spaces will relax back into a 7M x 7M economical grid spacing with a column grid that will be carried all the way down through the parking garage in the basement.
As for the National Games Arena, it will be made out of reinforced concrete, concrete walls, and steel frame. The long span roof will consist of deep sculptured beams being stabilized by interior armatures. These sculptured beams are announced to contain the mechanical systems of the space.

Site Plan © Emergent

The skin will be opaque made out of aluminium panel, featuring thin-film solar technology in roof areas. The transparent parts will be composed of ETFE bubbles being pressurized with air. This results in an extremely lightweight compared to glazing, the agency says.

Model © Emergent

Therefore, this system requires minimal structure to support it. Translucent bubbles made out of multiple layers of ETFE insulated with aero gel or other high-performance insulation will permit to minimize solar gain in summer and heat-loss in winter.

Diagram © Emergent

Apart from the patterning, the structure and the materials, this multi-storey complex will be conceived as an artificial landscape dedicated to sports activities.

Interior Spaces © Emergent

The building will play an icon for the Games, as well. This landscape will contain soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis, badminton, and volleyball courts at various levels.

Interior Spaces © Emergent

Building Sheet
Project: Civic Sports Center and 2013 National Games Arena
Architects: Emergent
Building Type: Sports Complex
Executive: SADI
Client: Liaoning Provincial Government
Location: Shenyang, China
Surface Area: 123,000 sqm

Source: Emergent