Swansea Arena is in the running for an award in recognition of its design excellence.
The arena, which has been open since March 2022, is among the finalists for a Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) Welsh Architecture Award.
Developed by Swansea Council, run by Ambassador Theatre Group and part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal, the arena was designed by architecture practice, ACME.
Over 1,600 gold-coloured panels help make up the outside of the building, along with close to 100,000 programmable LED lights used to promote upcoming shows and events at the venue.
Its entrance level is fully glazed on all sides, creating views between the foyer, VIP rooms, conference areas and the new landscaped park.
Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “Swansea Arena has become an iconic sight at a key gateway in and out of Swansea city centre both during daylight hours and after dark. This is testament to the quality of the building’s design, so it’s really encouraging that the arena has now been shortlisted for a major architectural award.
“Along with the Copr Bay bridge and coastal park, the arena has helped greatly improve links between the city centre and the maritime quarter and waterfront for pedestrians and cyclists, while also acting as a catalyst for further investment in our city.”
Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “Hundreds of thousands of people have attended concerts, conferences, graduations and other events at the arena in the two years or so since it first opened.
“This shows the quality of the arena building and its management are further raising Swansea’s status as a leading city of events and entertainment, with so much more to follow in the coming months and years for the benefit of local people, businesses and visitors.”
Friedrich Ludewig, founding director at ACME, said: “We’re thrilled to see Swansea Arena serving its community and now being shortlisted for the RSAW Awards 2024. The arena’s facade is a softly pleated curtain in molten copper colour, in reference to Swansea’s industrial heritage. After dark, it awakes, with 100,000 individually programmable LEDs creating a huge digital screen. Outside a new coastal park provides much-needed play space for all.”
Other finalists for the Royal Society of Architects in Wales award include Maindee Triangle in Newport, Edge House in Ceredigion and Plas Hendy Stable Block in Monmouth.
All the shortlisted projects will now be assessed by a Welsh jury and the winners will be announced later this spring. They will also be in the running for a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) national award in recognition of their architectural excellence.
The arena shortlisting follows on from the Copr Bay bridge winning an award at the Structural Steel Design Awards 2023 for the high standard of its design. Judges praised the bridge for providing a dramatic new gateway to Swansea.
