Case Study: Oak View Group transforms Climate Pledge Arena into a world-class venue with Thornton Tomasetti

Oak View Group transforms Climate Pledge Arena with Thornton Tomasetti, shaving 4 months off the schedule

The Oak View Group faced the challenge of transforming the historic KeyArena in Seattle into the modern, below-grade Climate Pledge Arena while preserving its iconic 44-million-pound roof structure and exterior façade. This required a near-total demolition and excavation of the structure beneath the roof, all within a high seismic zone and on an aggressive schedule. Thornton Tomasetti was engaged to provide structural and construction engineering services to support this complex renovation.

Thornton Tomasetti designed a massive temporary roof-shoring system to support the historic roof during the two-year construction process, allowing the new arena to be built beneath it. Using their Advanced Project Delivery (APD) services and a fully coordinated Tekla model, the team accelerated the steel procurement process, shaving approximately four months off the schedule. The successful project resulted in a world-class, net-zero carbon certified venue that is now home to the NHL's Seattle Kraken and the WNBA's Seattle Storm.

Oak View Group