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Big and hntb collaborate for new las vegas baseball stadium

The famed Las Vegas Strip is expected to be the home of a new ballpark for the Oakland A’s by architecture firms Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and HNTB. Once complete, the project is set to be the future home of Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics. Taking inspiration from Las Vegas‘ vibrant atmosphere, the ballpark is an open-air space with panoramic views of the desert city’s skyline. This 33,000-seat covered stadium occupies a nine-acre plot on Las Vegas Boulevard between Tropicana and Reno Avenues. Scheduled to open in spring 2028, the project marks a renewed collaboration between BIG and the Athletics, following an earlier ballpark design proposed for Oakland, California in 2018 (see designboom’s coverage here).

UPDATE June 25th, 2025: The Oakland A’s officially break ground on their Las Vegas ballpark, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and HNTB. Dubbed ‘the Armadillo’ for its expressive, layered shell, the structure marks BIG’s first realized baseball stadium and redefines the typology with a dramatic cable-net glass facade framing the Strip.

Set to open ahead of the 2028 MLB season, the project brings together Thornton Tomasetti, Henderson Engineers, CAA ICON, Mortenson, and McCarthy Building Companies. The ballpark also builds on BIG’s previous collaboration with the Athletics on an earlier, unbuilt design in Oakland. ‘This groundbreaking is a great milestone for our almost decade-long collaboration with the A’s. It marks the end of a long journey to find the new home for the A’s, and on a personal note, the groundbreaking of our first baseball stadium,’ shares Bjarke Ingels. ‘The A’s Armadillo is unlike any other ballpark, and will not only be a great home for the team and the sport, but also a striking new architectural

character in the string of pearls along the Las Vegas Strip.’

all images courtesy of Bjarke Ingels Group, unless stated otherwise

a dome roof for ambient light and framed views

The architects at Bjarke Ingels Group collaborate with HNTB for the new ballpark in Las Vegas, instantly recognized by its sculptural roof. Five overlapping shells, are designed to resemble ‘baseball pennants,’ and provide shade for players while allowing indirect natural light to filter through clerestory windows oriented towards the north. The domed structure also hosts the world’s largest cable net glass wall, framing uninterrupted views of Las Vegas. The building’s exterior, wrapped in metallic panels, shimmers in the sunlight and reflects the city’s dazzling lights at night.

John Fisher, Managing Partner & Owner, Athletics comments: ‘BIG’s revolutionary design, created in collaboration with HNTB, represents a captivating ballpark concept, seamlessly blending innovation and technology with an enhanced fan experience. We are very excited to share the work of our design team with the entire Southern Nevada community.’

the project is set to be the future home of Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics

the breezy, climate controlled space

Fans enter the ballpark through an elevated outdoor plaza, which Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and HNTB connect with bridges spanning Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue. This entrance leads directly to the main concourse, where a large glass atrium opens toward the cityscape. This design ensures optimal navigation and will allow arriving fans to immediately take in the entire field and seating arrangement. Secondary entrances on the north and south sides feature ‘bouncing’ arches, promoting accessibility and a connection to the outdoors. Once inside, bright and airy atria greet the visitors, doubling as multi-purpose exhibition spaces that showcase local and international art.

Inspired by historic ballparks like Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, the tiered seating design with split upper and lower bowls brings spectators closer to the action than in traditional stadiums. Every seat is designed to offer unobstructed sight lines. An innovative air-conditioning system ensures efficient and eco-friendly cooling by distributing cool air directly to the seats rather than from the ceiling.

the domed structure hosts the world’s largest cable net glass wall

Bjarke Ingels comments: ‘Our design for the new Vegas home for the A’s is conceived in response to the unique culture and climate of the city. Five pennant arches enclose the ballpark – shading from the Nevada sun while opening to the soft daylight from the north. A giant window frames a majestic view of the life of The Strip and the iconic New York New York hotel skyline. All direct sunlight is blocked, while all the soft daylight is allowed to wash the field in natural light. The resultant architecture is like a spherical armadillo — shaped by the local climate — while opening and inviting the life of The Strip to enter and explore. In the city of spectacle, the A’s ‘armadillo’ is designed for passive shading and natural light — the architectural response to the Nevada climate generating a new kind of vernacular icon in Vegas.’

taking inspiration from Las Vegas‘ vibrant atmosphere

Daniel Sundlin, Partner, BIG, continues: ‘Our new A’s Ballpark in Las Vegas is designed to celebrate baseball and become a destination for fans from all over the world. The ballpark will be a climate-controlled, state-of-the-art facility that will house a variety of events and guest experiences. By opening up the roof structure, we’re capturing the energy of the iconic Las Vegas Strip and creating a unique synergy between its events and the surrounding city.’

this 33,000-seat covered stadium will occupy a nine-acre plot

scheduled to open in spring 2028

the project marks a renewed collaboration between BIG and the Athletics

bright and airy atria greet the visitors

the Oakland A’s officially break ground on their Las Vegas ballpark | image by the Athletics

the structure marks BIG’s first realized baseball stadium | image by the Athletics

BIG Team (L to R): Leon Rost, Tracey Coffin, Frankie Sharpe, Jan Klaska, Daniel Sundlin | image by the Athletics

project info:

project title: Athletics Ballpark

architecture: Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), HNTB

location: Las Vegas, Nevada

size: 33,000 capacity

completion: expected 2028

client: Athletics
collaborators: HNTB, Thornton Tomasetti, Henderson Engineers, CAA ICON, Mortenson, McCarthy, Atelier Ten, RWDI, Kimley-Horn, Systematica, WJHW, Jensen Hughes, HKA, WSP, FP&C, Chicago Flyhouse, Duray Duncan, Ed Roether Consulting, Morean

BIG team:
partners-in-charge: Bjarke Ingels, Daniel Sundlin
project manager: Aran Coakley
project leaders: Frankie Sharpe, Jan Klaska, Ricardo Palma
team: Ahmad Tabbakh, Alan Maedo, Bernardo Schuhmacher, Catrina Nelson, Don Chen, Douglass Alligood, Ema Bakalova, Hongye Wu, Hudson Parris, Jeff Tao, Margaret Tyrpa, Matthew Lau, Paul Heberle, Pooya Aledavood, Sunghwan Um, Thomas McMurtrie, Yuzaburo Tanaka

HNTB team:
principal-in-charge: Lanson Nichols
project director: Brad Albers
project leaders: Emily Louchart, Jeff Goode
team: Stephanie Schneidereit, Bryan Rincon, Phil Perkins, Donovan Brook, Jack Swezy, Jimena Dorador, Robbie Powell

The post bjarke ingels group breaks ground on sculptural las vegas ballpark for oakland A’s appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Shuai Zhang proposes sculptural amphitheater in canada

Steps of Tranquility by Shuai Zhang is a sculptural amphitheater that brings life to the gently sloping shoreline of Lakeside Park in Canada. This eco-driven public landmark proposal combines locally sourced stone and high-performance glass into terraced platforms that invite everything from casual strolls to cultural gatherings.

The project honors the natural topography of the site, leveraging early analyses of sun paths, lake breezes, and pedestrian flows to create a terraced sequence that integrates with the landscape. Its form flows organically and,  rather than imposing a rigid structure, echoes the contours of the lakeshore. By creating diverse zones for public use, this sustainable intervention encourages people to reconnect with the water’s edge and each other, activating the waterfront.

images courtesy of Shuai Zhang

natural materials and smart design shape Steps of Tranquility

The project is a result of precise prefabrication, where locally sourced limestone is cut using CNC technology into stone pieces that fit together like puzzle parts, giving the structure solid strength and helping regulate temperature. These stone bases were lifted into place quickly with cranes, creating a strong foundation for the glass structure to be added on top without delay. The glass panels themselves were made in a factory to exact standards – they have clear low-iron cores and special coatings that let in plenty of daylight while blocking out excessive heat from the sun, so people inside can enjoy uninterrupted views of the lake without feeling overheated.

Hidden beneath the southern terraces, a discreet cistern collects rainwater runoff from both the stone and glass surfaces, which is then used to water the surrounding plants, reducing the need for drinking water by as much as 60%. Steps of Tranquility also includes cleverly placed gaps between the terrace slabs and the glass facade that create a natural airflow called the stack effect. Cool air from the lake is drawn in at lower points, while warm air rises and escapes through higher vents, cutting the demand for mechanical cooling by nearly a quarter. Adding to this, recessed LED lights are built into the steps themselves and controlled via a smart network, allowing the lighting to adjust automatically depending on the event or the natural light outside.

Shuai Zhang’s multi-purpose amphitheater aims to bring a new level of life and meaning to the waterfront by combining smart sustainable features, tactile natural materials, and spaces designed for cultural events.

Steps of Tranquility by Shuai Zhang brings life to the gently sloping shoreline of Lakeside Park in Canada

the sculptural amphitheater combines locally sourced stone and high-performance glass

the design flows organically

Shuai Zhang creates diverse zones for public use

stone pieces fit together like puzzle parts

locally sourced limestone is cut using CNC technology

project info:

name: Steps of Tranquility
architect: Shuai Zhang
location: Lakeside Park, Canada

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

The post terraced stone and glass platforms shape shuai zhang’s sculptural amphitheater in canada appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.