America West Arena to receive addition and facelift

Home to the Phoenix Suns basketball team and Coyotes hockey team, the 9-year-old, 19,000-seat America West Arena will a receive a $30 million addition and facelift.

Omaha-based architecture firm DLR Group is teaming with Orne and Associates, a Los Angeles-based design firm, to design a new 60,000-sq.-ft. retail and entertainment addition, a new exterior façade and a four-story, 18,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall. Indianapolis-based Hunt Construction Group is construction manager and general contractor for the project, which is scheduled for completion in October of 2002.

The new glass and truss façade will be constructed as the outer skin of the north and east side of the arena. The east side addition will include Jillian's Restaurant, a multimedia dining and entertainment venue with black-light bowling, billiards and other sports bar games.

The curved exterior of the exhibit hall (below) is designed similarly to a four-story movie screen and will feature advertising and special events light shows.