Wintrust Arena caught judges’ attention for its unusual take on the traditional basketball and concert venue. Drawing inspiration from Chicago’s rich theater history, the arena’s signature design elements are its segmented upper seating bowl and its staggered, curved roof form — one providing views of the other.
Facilities of Merit winners were selected in July by a panel of seven architects at the conclusion of two days of deliberations at AB Media headquarters in Madison, Wis. Next month, the architects, consultants and facility owners behind each winning project will be honored at a reception at the Athletic Business Conference & Expo in Orlando.
Thanks to all 54 entrants for helping ensure the program’s high level of competition, and congratulations to the 2019 Facilities of Merit. — The Editors
The bowl provides concourse pedestrians an interior peek at the roof’s underside through wedge-shaped slivers between seating sections — the largest gap affording a look at the arena’s massive scoreboard even from the building exterior.
“I love the connection to the seating bowl from the atrium,” noted one judge. “That glimpse is a really exciting moment.”
