ZHA’s business stadium central approved for construction
Zaha Hadid Architects’ competition proposal for a new business center in Lithuania has just been granted approval by The City of Vilnius. Integrated within the municipality’s urban plan and the popular public square adjacent to the site, the ZHA-designed Business Stadium Central will materialize as a new and dynamic gathering hub, with construction planned to start in the second quarter of 2023.
‘Business Stadium Central creates a variety of new public spaces and amenities for the city within a design that integrates flexible workplaces encouraging interaction and collaboration together with extensive health and wellness facilities for use by everyone in Vilnius,’ shares ZHA.
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two connecting low-rise towers with rich spatial programs
Spanning 24,000 sqm, the ZHA proposal incorporates two low-rise towers of 8 and 9 storeys connected at street level by a courtyard atrium, two floors of public amenities, and a skybridge linking both structures at level five. Together, these towers emerge with curving façades and stacks of cantilevered balconies facing towards the historic Gediminas Castle Tower in the heart of Vilnius.
Reinterpreting the dynamic geometries of the neighborhood’s existing civic architecture, Business Stadium Central also features 11,750 sqm of landscaped terraces, roof gardens, and plazas that open directly onto the public square designed by Martha Schwartz. Lined with cafés, restaurants, and shops, its atrium courtyard serves local residents, office workers, and visitors. Furthermore, elevators lead to top floors fitted with two public swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms, and sun decks with panoramic views over Vilnius’ historic Old Town.
Meanwhile, wanting to extend the project’s life-cycle, ZHA designed flexible office spaces within the central floors of each tower with maximum adaptability. Differing in size and layout to suit a variety of companies from new start-ups to established international corporations, these workplaces connect with landscaped roof gardens and terraces offering views of the surrounding city.
designing according to vilnius’ humid climate
Amid Vilnius’ humid continental climate, the architects resorted to annual solar analysis to compose the exterior shell — a series of glazed façades with precisely engineered louvres and balconies that minimize direct sun exposure in summer while maxmizing solar heat gain in colder periods. ‘These external shading devices are aligned with the sun’s lower altitude between October and April of approximately 38 degrees and are perpendicular to the highest position of the sun in Vilnius’ summer sky of 151 degrees,’ continues ZHA.
Using natural hybrid ventilation for most of the year, high-efficiency heat exchange and recovery systems will reduce energy consumption while double-insulated low-E glazing will provide excellent levels of natural throughout all public spaces and workplaces.
Indoors, a timber-based palette creates an ambiant warmth while encouraging sustainable building practices. Effectively, digital optimization design processes have minimized the amount of materials required and are integrated with procurement systems that increase the project’s recycled content. The timber will be sourced from certified local parties and included within the project’s overall supply chains which ZHA established to reduce delivery distances. Lastly, all specified materials are evaluated to enable disassembly and reuse at the end of the building’s operational life.
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