Smart Cities Dive (12/21/20) Phillips, Zachary
Seattle's $1 billion Climate Pledge Arena, where National Hockey League expansion franchise the Seattle Kraken and Women's National Basketball Association team Seattle Storm will make their home, will be the world's first certified net-zero carbon arena. Slated to open in October 2021, the arena was designed by architecture firm Populous, and its general contractor is Mortenson. To qualify for the Zero Carbon Certification from the International Living Future Institute, the arena will run exclusively on electrical power from on-site solar panels and off-site renewable energy. The venue retains the roof and exterior glass facade from the Seattle Center Arena, and is situated within the same development as the Space Needle. Mortenson General Manager Logan Gerken said parts of the facility had to be digitally redesigned in midstream to meet the net-zero carbon mandate. Construction commenced in December 2019, and is expected to be finished in the summer of 2021. The completed arena will be 800,000 square feet, twice that of the former stadium, and able to accommodate 17,100 hockey fans and 18,100 basketball fans, including private suites.
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