News
Date: May 16th 2007 Project: Pittsburgh Penguins Arena
The Pittsburgh Penguins have selected two international industry leaders, HOK Sport and ICON Venue Group, to oversee design and construction of the new Pittsburgh arena, it was announced today by Penguins CEO Ken Sawyer.
HOK Sport, the world’s leading sports architecture firm, will design the new multi-purpose facility. ICON Venue Group, an internationally renowned project management company, will oversee the construction process and serve as “owner’s representative,” providing a full range of venue development and operations services.
“The magnitude and potential impact of the new Pittsburgh arena project are such that we want to work with the very best design and management firms in the business,” Sawyer said. “ICON Venue Group and HOK Sport have been involved in some of the finest and most innovative arena and stadium projects in the world, and the Penguins are delighted to have them join our team as we enter this exciting new era for the team and the city.”
HOK Sport and ICON Venue Group have worked together on a number of projects, including the new Prudential Center in New Jersey, future home of the New Jersey Devils; the Jobing.com arena in Glendale, AZ, home of the Phoenix Coyotes; the Pepsi Center in Denver, home of the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets; the new Sprint Center in Kansas City; and the new O2 arena in London, England, a 20,000-seat facility which will be a host venue for the 2012 Olympics.
Among other professional sports venues, HOK Sport also has designed the Xcel Energy Center, home of the Minnesota Wild; Philips Arena, home of the Atlanta Thrashers and Hawks; the Gaylord Entertainment Center, home of the Nashville Predators; the United Center, home of the Chicago Blackhawks and Bulls; Honda Center, home of the Anaheim Ducks; PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates; and Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The ICON Venue Group project portfolio also includes Invesco Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos; the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers; O2 World in Berlin, Germany, a new multi-purpose facility scheduled to open in 2008, on the site containing the only remaining section of the Berlin Wall; and soccer-specific stadiums for MLS teams in Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City and Newark.
“We are thrilled to become a member of the Penguins project team and oversee an arena project that is so important to the Pittsburgh region,” said Tim Romani, ICON president and CEO. “The Penguins have created an ideal environment for success with a bold vision to build a championship team on the ice and a magnificent, state-of-the-art facility. This opportunity is tailor-made for the ICON team.”
“We have been consulting with the Penguins for a number of years and are excited now to play a key role in designing the dynamic new Pittsburgh arena,” said Rick Martin, managing senior principal of HOK Sport. “Our previous work with the Pirates and Steelers gives us a strong sense of the history of the region and its sports teams, and we plan to utilize that knowledge with this very special arena project.”
Demolition of the buildings on the current arena site began in early April and is expected to be completed in the fall. At that point, the construction phase will begin, Sawyer said.
For further information please contact
Gina Leo at HOK Sport (Kansas City)
Telephone: +1 816 221 1500
Facsimile: +1 816 221 1578
Email media@hoksve.com