Climate Pledge Arena

The new construction required the 44-million-pound roof to be lifted and suspended above the site while another 680,000 cubic yards of soil were removed underneath to nearly double the size of the former venue and create 360-degree pedestrian access. The beautiful curtain walls of glass were also restored, making Climate Pledge Arena the first in North America where someone can walk entirely around the facility while never losing sight of what’s inside.

The new venue pushes the boundaries on other visual aspects as well. Unlike other arena video displays, Climate Pledge Arena boasts the world’s first dual suspended professional arena scoreboards. Behind this signature design lies a thorough analysis of on-ice and on-court action for hockey and basketball, spectator and athlete sightlines, and flexibility for shows and concerts. This placement bolsters the fan experience and connects the audience to the action of faceoffs, free throws and inbounding plays. There are 59 luxury suites, 19 of which are tunnel club suites situated under the seating bowl, giving fans a close-up view of the players as they walk from the locker room to the ice or court.

The arena is also designed to employ numerous sustainable practices and operations. The facility is powered solely on renewable energy sources, including on-site solar energy on the atrium roof. The site design builds strong connections with the monorail and provides space for electric vehicle charging stations and bike valet services. The design also supports water conservation systems — such as harvesting rainwater from the roof to turn it into the greenest ice in the NHL — and zero waste initiatives. The venue is home to a 200-foot living wall with greenery hanging overhead, an Amazon vision that Populous brought to life. The space also features an LED wall that details the importance of developing a zero carbon arena.

In addition to the electricity generated by the rooftop solar panels, Climate Pledge Arena and Amazon purchased and retired more than 100,000 megawatt hours of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), some of which are from Puget Sound Energy’s Lower Snake River wind farm. The arena has also pledged to be one of the first commercial customers for Seattle City Light’s Renewable Plus program, a program structured to provide renewable energy for the arena, which is projected to be available in 2025. 

The arena goes beyond its actions to achieve carbon neutrality and employs sustainable practices in its client-facing operations, such as eliminating single-use plastics and offering free public transit with every game or event ticket.

IMPACT. Climate Pledge Arena is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most significant private investments in sports and entertainment history. The Populous design challenges the status quo to create a functional and iconic arena from the videoboards to the expansive, universally accessible outdoor plaza. It also contributes to a critical movement within the industry to transition the built environment from a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions to a central solution to the climate crisis. These sustainable design strategies and ambitious targets set a new bar for the global sports and events industry.

As the first arena to achieve Zero Carbon Certification, Climate Pledge Arena is sending a powerful message to the world: it is possible to create complicated, intricate, beautiful structures that are environmentally sustainable and contain every contemporary amenity. This achievement aligns with Populous’ commitment to delivery zero carbon projects by 2030.