When Forest City Ratner Companies decided it was time for Brooklyn to have a one-of-a-kind venue, AECOM Hunt was up to the challenge. The 670,000 SF multi-purpose Barclays Center with its 18,000 seats, 105 suites and countless other luxury experiences sets a new standard in arena design and construction.
Barclays Center is home to the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and the NHL’s New York Islanders, and also serves as a premier venue for concerts and other events. Located in the heart of Brooklyn with a subway stop at its front door, the arena brings new life to Brooklyn.
The project wasn’t without its challenges. The arena’s façade is made up of 12,000 pre-rusted weathered steel panels that dynamically reflect changes in the weather and daylight, as well as referring to the arena’s brownstone neighborhood; since each panel is unique, installation required extraordinary planning and precision, with the additional constraint of a tight jobsite. Another aspect of the work requiring careful logistics – but that is perhaps the most eye-catching feature of all – is the canopy or “oculus,” a massive sculptural form lined with a curving 3,000-foot LED board at the entrance of the facility, creating a dramatic sense of arrival for visitors to the Barclays Center.
The arena benefits Brooklyn in the long run, with countless new jobs and more traffic for local businesses. Additionally, the 135,000 SF green roof of the facility, with 3,500 trays of mixed sedum plants, helps dampen sound during events, brings in beneficial honeybees to help pollinate the surrounding area and makes the facility a beautiful site from above.
Barclays Center has made a tremendous difference in the entire city — it’s become an icon overnight all over the world. I get compliments from everybody. They say it’s one of the most important things to happen in this city in many, many years.
Executive Chairman, Forest City Ratner Companies
Project Highlights
- USGBC LEED Silver
- Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal: Sports Facility of the Year, 2013