Saitama Super Arena Flexes Mega Muscles

On the tiny island of Japan, space is extremely precious, as the population pushes 126 million. Designed for multiple programming needs in on inclusive location, the 500,000-square-foot Saitama Super Arena was a welcome arrival in the prefecture of Saitama, japan, just north of Tokyo. Hosting sports, music, industry, and cultural events, this gathering place is useful to people in the community of all ages and walks of life.

The design team was challenged to create a multifunctional facility that combine three building in one. It transforms from 30,000 seats for field games and exhibitions to 20,000 seats for music and sporting events, and provides daily cultural and retail activities simultaneously. The building's design and use of technology have caught the attention of visitors and professionals from around the world. Saitama stretches the limit on flexibility, with walls, ceiling, seats, and floors that move. A block of 9,200 seats along with toilets, concessions, and circulation can be reconfigured in about 20 minutes. the movable-block technology has performed flawlessly from its initial test in early 2000 through the building's first year operation.