In Savannah, Ga., Enmarket Arena, a multipurpose arena that opened last year, has helped revitalize the city’s historic Canal District—home to a largely African American community that has been historically separated from the rest of downtown.
The project helps realize Savannah’s new Canal District Master Plan, which aims to ensure socially equitable economic growth in the area for the next 50 years. The plan was designed in collaboration with city officials, local planners, and community members.
Located on Springfield Canal, the 149,000-sf, 9,500-seat venue has already welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors who have watched hockey, musical acts, and other live events.
Enmarket is now home of the ECHL Ghost Pirates, a recently launched professional minor league hockey team, and will host all of the team’s home games, as well as other sporting events.
Designed by Perkins&Will in partnership with Goode Van Slyke, Enmarket Arena has an interior design concept that references Savannah’s natural and architectural features. The lobby stairs takes inspiration from the historic steps connecting River Street to Bay Street.
Ceiling and light elements suggest Spanish moss and light filtered through tree canopies, and carpet and floor patterns echo River Street’s cobblestone. Expansive exterior terraces provide event spaces while taking advantage of the area’s warm climate. And as a color accent, the project uses “haint blue,” a traditional color palette used in the South to ward off spirits.
The arena also features clubs, restaurants, bars, and concessions near the main event area.
On the Building Team:
Owner and developer: City of Savannah
Architect: Perkins&Will
Associate architect: Goode Van Slyke
Landscape architect: Mandel Design, LLC
MEP engineer: ME Engineers
Structural engineer: Walter P Moore
Civil engineer: Hussey Gay Bell
General contractor/construction manager: AECOM Hunt
Audiovisual: WJHW
Related Stories
| Jul 23, 2014
Architecture Billings Index up nearly a point in June
AIA reported the June ABI score was 53.5, up from a mark of 52.6 in May.
| Jul 21, 2014
Economists ponder uneven recovery, weigh benefits of big infrastructure [2014 Giants 300 Report]
According to expert forecasters, multifamily projects, the Panama Canal expansion, and the petroleum industry’s “shale gale” could be saving graces for commercial AEC firms seeking growth opportunities in an economy that’s provided its share of recent disappointments.
| Jul 18, 2014
Contractors warm up to new technologies, invent new management schemes [2014 Giants 300 Report]
“UAV.” “LATISTA.” “CMST.” If BD+C Giants 300 contractors have anything to say about it, these new terms may someday be as well known as “BIM” or “LEED.” Here’s a sampling of what Giant GCs and CMs are doing by way of technological and managerial innovation.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Construction Management Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, Barton Malow, Hill International top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest construction management and project management firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Contractors [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Turner, Whiting-Turner, Skanska top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest contractors in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Engineering firms look to bolster growth through new services, technology [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Following solid revenue growth in 2013, the majority of U.S.-based engineering and engineering/architecture firms expect more of the same this year, according to BD+C’s 2014 Giants 300 report.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Engineering/Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, AECOM, Parsons Brinckerhoff top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest engineering/architecture firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Engineering Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Fluor, Arup, Day & Zimmermann top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest engineering firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Gensler, Perkins+Will, NBBJ top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest architecture firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
2014 Giants 300 Report
Building Design+Construction magazine's annual ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.
