In Savannah, Ga., Enmarket Arena, a multipurpose arena that opened last year, has helped revitalize the city’s historic Canal District—home to a largely African American community that has been historically separated from the rest of downtown.
The project helps realize Savannah’s new Canal District Master Plan, which aims to ensure socially equitable economic growth in the area for the next 50 years. The plan was designed in collaboration with city officials, local planners, and community members.
Located on Springfield Canal, the 149,000-sf, 9,500-seat venue has already welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors who have watched hockey, musical acts, and other live events.
Enmarket is now home of the ECHL Ghost Pirates, a recently launched professional minor league hockey team, and will host all of the team’s home games, as well as other sporting events.
Designed by Perkins&Will in partnership with Goode Van Slyke, Enmarket Arena has an interior design concept that references Savannah’s natural and architectural features. The lobby stairs takes inspiration from the historic steps connecting River Street to Bay Street.
Ceiling and light elements suggest Spanish moss and light filtered through tree canopies, and carpet and floor patterns echo River Street’s cobblestone. Expansive exterior terraces provide event spaces while taking advantage of the area’s warm climate. And as a color accent, the project uses “haint blue,” a traditional color palette used in the South to ward off spirits.
The arena also features clubs, restaurants, bars, and concessions near the main event area.
On the Building Team:
Owner and developer: City of Savannah
Architect: Perkins&Will
Associate architect: Goode Van Slyke
Landscape architect: Mandel Design, LLC
MEP engineer: ME Engineers
Structural engineer: Walter P Moore
Civil engineer: Hussey Gay Bell
General contractor/construction manager: AECOM Hunt
Audiovisual: WJHW
Related Stories
Arenas | Jul 12, 2019
Arenas on campuses aren’t just for sports anymore
Several ARC-designed projects give the firm’s academic clients more event-hosting flexibility.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 15, 2018
Is this the most environmentally sustainable arena in the country?
The university arena was designed by Architectural Resources Cambridge.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 27, 2018
The second-oldest basketball arena in NCAA Division I receives $15.5 million update
Bruner/Cott & Associates led the revitalization project.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Sep 11, 2017
Mid-size, multi-use arenas setting a trend for the future
While large 20,000-seat sports venues aren’t going away, mid-size venues provide advantages the big arenas do not in a time of budget constraints and the need for flexibility.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 21, 2017
Boston Celtics training and practice facility will be part of Boston Landing mixed-use development
The facility will also include two floors of Class A laboratory and office space and retail space.
| Aug 15, 2016
SPORTS FACILITY GIANTS: New and renovated college sports venues - designed to serve students and the community
Schools are renovating existing structures or building new sports facilities that can serve the student body and surrounding community.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 6, 2016
Las Vegas debuts another new arena, with a number of ‘firsts’
The gambling mecca has its eyes on attracting a pro sports team.
Events Facilities | Mar 7, 2016
Experts pessimistic on Chicago’s $650 million McCormick Place expansion
Developers and city officials envision $250 million of annual growth, but the figure assumes that a new arena will lure conventions and draw full houses for basketball games.
Giants 400 | Jan 29, 2016
SPORTS FACILITIES GIANTS: Populous, AECOM, Turner among top sports sector AEC firms
BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest sports sector design and construction firms, as reported in the 2015 Giants 300 Report
| Jan 14, 2016
How to succeed with EIFS: exterior insulation and finish systems
This AIA CES Discovery course discusses the six elements of an EIFS wall assembly; common EIFS failures and how to prevent them; and EIFS and sustainability.
