Future Cities Forum Awards 2024 - infrastructure and arena categories

Above: Robert Poujade Bridge in Toulouse - courtesy Grimshaw / ppa architectures

Future Cities Forum will be including both bridge infrastructure and arena development as part of its Winter Awards 2024 categories, to be judged by an all-female panel this month.

Bridges often link areas of new economic growth, while the design of them tackles issues around transportation and climate change. Our arena category, looks at new facilities and the re-imagining of performance space, contributing to the 24/7 sustainable cultural life of cities.

The Passerelle Robert Poujade in Toulouse, designed by Grimshaw, has been entered into our infrastructure category. It is a key part of the Grand Parc Garonne urban project led by Toulouse Metropole. The pedestrian and cycling bridge – one of two bridges connecting the Ile de Ramier to the city – provides traffic-free routes to the regenerated island, a new 'green lung' of the city on the Garonne. Grimshaw, with Eiffage (who lead the design team), Ingerop, ppa architectures, ATP and Quartier Lumieres, won the competition to design and deliver the bridge in 2022.

Grimshaw states:

'Connecting to the north of the island from the Fer à Cheval neighbourhood, the bridge spans 160-metres across the river. On the city side it links directly to the embankment with access to the river promenade and the city cycle route and connects to the Avenue du Muret — Marcel Cavaillé light rail station. On the island side, guided by the levels of the land and limiting its impact on landscape, the bridge descends into the park via a 360-degree sloping concrete ramp and stairway, designed to mitigate against potential flooding from the river.

'The cable-stayed bridge is defined by a 60-metre inverted V-shaped steel mast. Appearing to emerge from the island the structure acts as a gateway to the island and enables the bridge crossing to provide uninterrupted views to the old town to the north and the Pyrenees to the south. This functional simplicity extends to the material selection: the steel mast supports a five-metre-wide metal deck and balustrade. By night, controlled lighting along the bridge and mast creates a safe, accessible passage for users and sets the new city route sympathetically in the surrounding natural and urban context on either side of the river

'Linking to the north of the Ile du Ramier, the bridge acts as a catalyst to the future development which includes the redevelopment of the Parc des Expositions site, as well as providing pedestrian, car-free access to the existing Art Deco Nakache swimming pool and the stadium. The bridge was officially opened on 22 June, 2024 by the Mayor of Toulouse.'

Above: The Mezz bar at the AO Manchester Arena (courtesy HOK)

Manchester’s AO Arena, a venue which helped shape the city’s famed music scene, recently marked the completion of a £50 million redevelopment led by architecture firm HOK. It has been entered into our arena awards category.

HOK states:

'The project enhanced capacity, improved the event experience for fans and artists and created new seating products, all while preserving the legacy of one of Europe’s most iconic live music venues.

'HOK’s design solutions created revenue-generating spaces in previously underutilized areas of the arena. A new general admission concourse doubles the capacity of the event floor. The design also features a new hospitality entrance leading to a first-of-its-kind bar and restaurant experience called The Mezz that offers direct access to the Arena bowl. The Mezz sits between the concourse and 23,000 capacity seating bowl. Guests can move seamlessly from their tables to the best seats in the house which boasts spectacular, panoramic views of the main stage. Additional point of sale locations further improves the guest experience.

'The design team also reimagined the back-of-house and artist spaces. Artist areas now feature a distinctive entry experience and the design creates a clear threshold between private artist space and the service yard. Upgraded dressing rooms, a renovated green room and fresh crew catering spaces will help attract music’s biggest acts.

“Our vision audaciously uncovered hidden commercial opportunities in a complex, more than 25-year-old venue,” said John Rhodes, RIBA, ARB, Director of Sports + Entertainment for HOK. “We are honoured to have played a lead role in sustainably expanding the venue’s capacity and event experience for one of the UK’s biggest indoor entertainment destinations. The project secures a bold future for live events in Manchester.”