Architectural competition for the Indoor Sports Center - 4th place

CONCEPT / URBANISM
The pedestrian platform is perceived as an extension of the public park, while also integrating all essential functional elements of athlete operations, service, and technical aspects. It articulates both masses of the sports halls – the oval multifunctional arena and the cubical training halls. The pedestrian roof of the platform also serves as additional entrances for spectators into the multifunctional arena, dispersing the flow of incoming and outgoing visitors.
The operational solution is clear and logical; all functions of the design are situated at ground level except for the spectator operations on the first floor and VIP and media in the inserted gallery at the level of the second floor.
The placement of the platform respects the limits of the competition area, with the main entrances for spectators positioned from the west, oriented toward the space of the planned capacity parking.

OPERATION / ARCHITECTURE
Spectators enter the arena from the west either from the ground level, where changing rooms and restrooms are assigned to the foyer, which allows for direct connection to the area during cultural events. Additional entrances for spectators are possible from the platform space accessible via ramps at the level of the first floor. Here, further service functions for spectators are proposed – refreshments, restrooms, restaurants, and entrances to the arena. VIP and media operations are located one level up on the second floor. All other required functions of the sports center can be found on the ground floor, with a north-oriented entrance for athletes, associated changing rooms, operational facilities of the sports center, administration, and technical operations. The design of the changing rooms is based on the requirement of not crossing clean and dirty operations.
The solution allows for seamless completion of the second phase, easy integration of athletes into existing changing rooms, and entrance for spectators into the training hall from the ground level from the east, with an additional entrance from the platform.
The arena's own space creates a traditional and proven arrangement of rows into the so-called pit, which provides the advantage of a reduced number of rows and thus direct contact between spectators and players. The clear height of 12.5 meters above the playing area complies with international FIVB regulations for volleyball matches, while it is also anticipated that the arena will be used for top-level gymnastics and cultural events. The eastern grandstand is designed to be telescopic with the required variability of the arena; this part is expected to host a stage during cultural events.
The total capacity of the stands is 3094 spectators (2974 arena, 120 VIP) for volleyball, which will be reduced when used for cultural events. Given the placement of the stage, the capacity of the arena will be approximately 2040 seated spectators, while the possibility of utilizing the area at the level of the playing area in front of the stage for standing spectators is also considered.
The training hall in the second phase meets its dimensions for multipurpose use for basketball, volleyball, tennis, handball, futsal, and smaller indoor sports. The athletics corridor, which will also be part of the second phase, will be integrated along the southern edge of the addressed area beneath the platform.
The architectural language employs the dual character of the design masses.
The landscape character of the pedestrian platform with materials of concrete, grass, and wood will correspond to the surrounding exterior areas of the park, while the façade of both sports halls on the platform will be transparent with exterior vertical wooden slats.

CONCEPT OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL USE
The variable use of the stands; on the shorter eastern side of the stand, we propose the use of a telescopic stand – 8 rows retract. When the stand is retracted, space is created for placing a stage, thus expanding the standing area during concerts (etc.) with a requirement for maximum spectator capacity. When the telescopic stands are extended, the principle of the arena's pit remains preserved. Raising the bottom row of the stands to a height of 1m compared to the level of the playing area allows us to install temporary removable stands (3-4 rows) on both longer and shorter sides, (the viewing curve will be preserved) – in case of a demand to increase the capacity of seated spectators and the possibility of reducing the playing area. These 3 rows could also be designed as telescopic; however, due to costs, this is not considered. The use of the main multifunctional space can be configured according to purpose, thereby changing spectator capacity.

CONSTRUCTION SOLUTION
The characteristic feature of the main hall’s façade is the rhythmic alternating vertical bands of wood and glass. Vertical bands create a multitude of peripheral polygons with minimal angular deviation using more economically advantageous flat and direct structures. Changes in angle will be realized at the point of glass placement. For better static properties and consequently significantly lower costs, a column-and-beam system of a lightweight outer façade is proposed, made of galvanized, or as needed, reinforced steel profiles with a system finish of powder coating.

The rhythmic alternating of vertical wooden bands with glass bands in the case of the training hall is designed from solid insulating bands and narrow units made of insulating glass fitted into metal frames. The material restraint will also be emphasized in the internal surfaces. Concrete and metal structures will be complemented by seamless, easily maintainable screeds on the floors and possibly on some stressed walls. The acoustics of the main spaces will be fine-tuned by a combination of reflective and absorptive surfaces.

CONSTRUCTION / TECHNOLOGY
The Sports Hall Center consists of a main hall and a smaller training hall. Both halls are formed in the first above-ground floor by a common level, whose external dimensions are approximately 129 x 75 meters, and which is divided into two dilatation units according to construction phases. Construction-wise, the building can be divided into a main concrete load-bearing structure for the first two floors including the ceiling and a lightweight steel structure for the roofing. The concrete structure is designed to be a monolithic reinforced concrete combination with prefabricated elements, primarily spectator stands made of lightweight concrete. Monolithic ceiling structures will be formed into spans of 8 meters using slabs with flat heads; in areas with larger spans, the ceiling slab will be supplemented with beams in column bands. The concrete monolithic structures are designed to be realizable using standard technologies. On the concrete columns is placed a steel roof structure consisting of singly tensioned truss girders spanning 44 meters, which support lightweight truss girders supporting the trapezoidal sheeting of the roof. The shape of the main steel trusses is clean with a straight bottom chord.

Before the next project phase, it will be necessary to carry out an engineering-geological survey to design an effective foundation method. According to the conclusions of the provided review, the foundation is proposed to be deep on piles due to the uniform settlement of the structure.
The height placement of the structure is designed with regard to the height of the hundred-year flood Q100; the basic floor level of the ground floor is above this elevation, and the building without underground floors contributes to a reasonable economy of the project.
The air conditioning systems for filtration, heating, and mechanical cooling will be divided according to the individual ventilated areas; the design anticipates central built-in units in the air conditioning machinery rooms. The use of recuperative devices with high thermal efficiency and mixing chambers for utilizing the share of recirculated air is envisaged.
Heating will utilize a central heat source with a connection of the heat exchanger station to the existing steam pipeline.

TRANSPORTATION / GREENERY
The construction of the sports center will trigger the need for a new capacity parking lot to the west of the addressed area, with an anticipated capacity of 500 spaces, considering a two-story parking lot utilizing the roof and one basement with a footprint of 36 x 98 meters, thus parking on 4 levels, 125 spaces on one floor.
Main accesses to the Sports Hall Center are situated from the area of the proposed parking; secondary access is from the center via a footbridge and park.
In the southwestern quadrant of the addressed area, a technical entrance to the arena is planned, and the adjacent parking is designed with the possibility of parking for 2 television vehicles and one player bus.

The character of the Stromovka park will be supported in the proposal; the mowed grass areas will be complemented by individual freestanding solitaires of trees and shrubs, and the materials of the exterior areas – concrete, grass, wood will be equivalent to the solution of the pedestrian platform.
On the building itself, greenery will be present on the roofs or on leveling topographical berms.