Kansas City's See-Through Arena

摘要

The use of architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS) and critical support steel on its doubly curved transparent curtain-wall system has enabled Kansas City's Sprint Center arena to fulfill its role as the center piece in the city's downtown renaissance.rnThe iconic curtain-wall cladding system, which allows clear views into and out of the building, is the most notable aesthetic design feature of the $276-million arena. To provide an elegant and non-distracting support structure, a system of curved vertical and horizontal steel pipe was selected from the numerous schemes investigated by the project team, which included a consortium of local architecture firms, HOK Sport + Venue + Event, Ellerbe Becket, 360 Architecture, and Rafael Architects, and Houston structural engineer of record Walter P Moore.