Featured image credit: City of Warsaw
The City of Warsaw has announced that locally-based Bujnowski Architekci and ATJ Architekci have won a design competition to develop a new athletics stadium and arena on the site of the Stadion RKS Skra.
The competition marks the second stage of modernisation and expansion of the Skra, with the winning firms now invited to the negotiated procurement procedure. The design envisions the development of a stadium with a capacity of over 25,000, while paying tribute to the original shape that resembles an elongated horseshoe.
A modern athletics stadium is envisioned that will meet the requirements of World Athletics second category venues, while 100 photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roof of the building.
The multi-functional 6,000-capacity arena is intended to cater for Warsaw’s basketball and volleyball teams, while also hosting concerts and other events. It will be built on the site of a currently derelict complex of outdoor swimming pools.
A ‘green’ roof is intended to top the facility, while underground the design concept envisions the installation of a multi-functional sports pitch.
Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw, said: “Our battle lasted for many years to regain Skra, to be able to renovate it and return it to Warsaw residents as a sports complex.
“Our city needs modern sports infrastructure – an athletics stadium and arena that will be home to Warsaw sports and will serve the capital’s basketball and volleyball teams. We will also make sure that this sports complex is as green as possible.”
While a specific timeline has yet to be detailed for the stadium, work on the arena is scheduled to start in 2025, with completion expected in 2027.
First opened in 1953 as an athletics and football venue, the Skra was forced to close its doors in October 2019 after falling into a state of disrepair. The City reclaimed the stadium in 2021 after a 13-year legal battle and has since engaged in minor repair work so it can again be made available to local residents.
In June 2022, the Polish capital signed a contract for the first stage of what is intended to be a reimagining of the sports complex in the Ochota district of Warsaw. The City first revealed its vision for the transformation project in May 2021.
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