The President Valdas Adamkus Athletics Arena in Kaunas, Lithuania, extends the existing Dariaus and Girėno Stadium complex, forming a cohesive athletics campus for high-performance sport, community use, and long-term resilience. Designed by Lithuanian studio ARCHAS, the new indoor arena consolidates competition and training facilities within a compact, efficient envelope that responds to the site’s spatial constraints and the environmental ambitions of the original design competition. The volume is partially sunken 1.5 metres below grade to reduce its perceived mass and improve integration with the surrounding parkland, while enhancing spectator sightlines to the 200-metre and 60-metre tracks, jumping pits, throwing zones, and support spaces.
Flexible programme and spatial clarity
Adaptability is built into the arena’s structural and spatial strategy. A telescopic grandstand system allows seating to expand or retract depending on programme needs, enabling seamless transitions between elite competitions, youth training sessions, and community events. Internally, the hall is defined by uninterrupted sightlines and a structural logic that prioritises openness. Exposed three-layer concrete walls provide visual continuity and durability, while oak elements add warmth and tactility. Glazed roof sections and large perimeter windows bring controlled natural daylight into the track hall, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and creating a bright, motivating environment for athletes.
Envelope, light, and energy strategy
Daylight and passive design underpin the building’s environmental strategy. The roof’s distinctive ‘W’ profile incorporates north-facing skylights that introduce diffuse daylight without glare or heat gain—an essential requirement for track-and-field training. The geometry also increases structural efficiency, enabling longer spans with reduced steel tonnage. Photovoltaic panels on the south-facing roof slopes supply part of the building’s electrical demand. Heating is provided through the centralised district heating network, supported by a highly efficient regional infrastructure powered increasingly by renewables. Together, these systems reduce operational energy consumption and align the arena with A++ energy performance requirements under EU and Lithuanian standards.
Materiality, durability and contextual integration
The façade is composed of reinforced concrete panels textured to resemble oak bark, helping the building recede visually into the adjacent park. This robust exterior system ensures longevity, minimal maintenance, and strong thermal performance. The lowered main hall, combined with a green-buffered site strategy, further reduces visual impact and improves microclimatic stability around entrances and pathways. Interiors continue the theme of honest, low-maintenance materials: exposed concrete, oak, steel, and mineral finishes provide durability under intensive athletic use while maintaining a contemporary, understated character.
