The Tianjin Sports Arena is a venue for university and national sports events. The 120 meter by 58 meter building can house approx. 5,000 spectators and is located in the northeast of the campus at the renowned Tianjin University. The Sports Arena boasts two glass foyers that open out in the direction of the campus and downtown Tianjin. Standing at the junction of the campus and downtown, the new building represents an important link in the urban planning structure.

Made of gold-colored perforated sheet-steel panel, the translucent shell gives the Sports Arena a distinctive feature, its rhombic structure emphasizing the arena’s dynamic shape. At a distance of four meters behind the sheath, the outer wall adopts a likeness of the structure of the perforated sheet steel in the form of a black-and-white print. The overlapping of these two façade levels produces an unusual moiré effect.

The two entrance halls each penetrate the corner of the outer skin and provide access to the building via the narrow sides. The walls of the entrance halls are bright orange and contrast with the exposed concrete stairs. These lead from the foyer directly to the spectator stands. The large expanses of glass in the foyer extend across almost h entire height of the building (24 meters). On the longitudinal sides the perforated sheet steel façade mimics the inclination of the spectator stands. This way the geometry of the interior of the hall is also discernible from outside.

The seats in the spectator stands, which have a capacity of some 4,000, are colored orange and gray, and corresponds with the color of the foyer. A further 1,000 temporary places can be set up on the longitudinal side of the court. The 24 meter by 44 meter court can also be divided into smaller units, with skylights providing natural daylight. All the ancillary rooms, e.g., changing rooms are located on the levels beneath the stand.