CLAD news
Bjarke Ingels reveals designs for Oakland’s new ‘intimate’ baseball stadium
M
ajor League Baseball
character” of the neighbourhoods
(MLB) franchise Oakland
around it, while the field will
Athletics has revealed
remain as a focal point honouring
detailed designs for an
Oakland’s sports history. The park-
ambitious waterfront stadium.
ing lot will become a central park,
Designed by Danish architect
containing a ballfield amphitheatre,
Bjarke Ingels and his BIG practice,
event spaces, and restored wetlands.
the 34,000-capacity stadium is
The ballpark will facilitate “intimate” ballpark experiences
Meanwhile, the stadium itself
would be “bigger than baseball “We are excited to build a
being planned for a site at Port
will have views of the city and water,
bold, iconic ballpark at Howard
of Oakland’s Howard Terminal.
as well as new civic, educational,
Terminal,” Kaval added.
The expansive project includes two connecting elements. The site of the MLB team’s
cultural and recreational amenities for the local community. BIG is working on the designs
current stadium, the Coliseum
of the stadium in collaboration
– where the club has played since
with local architect Gensler and
1968 – will be redeveloped in a way
landscape experts Field Operations.
“This design will allow us to blur the boundaries of a traditional ballpark and integrate into the surrounding neighbourhood.” The Athletics will now begin a year long, state environmental
that will “benefit the community”,
According to Bjarke Ingels,
while also providing resources for
the ballpark will offer “the most
franchise is also in the process
the privately financed stadium.
intimate baseball experience in
of negotiating an agreement
the world”. Oakland Athletics’
with the Port of Oakland to
president Dave Kaval said the venue
acquire the 55-acre property.
The Coliseum site will adopt a new identity by “absorbing the
review of the proposals. The
This design will allow us to blur the boundaries of a traditional ballpark Dave Kavall
IMAGES COURTESY OF ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS
The stadium will rise at Port of Oakland’s Howard Terminal
28 CLADGLOBAL.COM
CLAD mag 2018 ISSUE 4