Peek inside Key Arena’s renovation with new renderings

Back in December, Seattle officially went forward with Oak View Group (OVG)’s plan to redevelop Key Arena with City Council approval and Mayor Jenny Durkan’s signature.

The $600 million project, funded by OVG, will double the size of the Key and preserve the arena’s historic roof. Renderings released earlier this week give a more concrete idea of what that looks like.

The new design, developed with design and architecture firm Populous, show new features like a glass atrium at the arena’s entrance that connects the structure with its surroundings—drawing in the rest of Seattle Center.

Inside, the atrium draws in a Space Needle view.

Much of the new Key design converses with the Needle, including the Space Needle Club on the upper deck, with views of both the landmark and whatever main event is going on in the arena.

A pedestrian plaza provides a tree-lined gathering space and another Space Needle view.

In the arena’s hockey configuration, pictured in renderings, it will seat about 17,000—about its current capacity for basketball, but more than it can currently offer for ice hockey.

The hockey view is timely, with Seattle’s application for an NHL team officially in and reservation deposits already being accepted for season tickets.

• Key Arena agreement approved by city [CS]

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