Avicii Arena’s renovation in Stockholm blends heritage with modern design, reusing most of the structure and adding new elements for a flexible, future-ready venue.

The Avicii Arena renovation in Stockholm, Sweden, honours its heritage while modernising the experience. The design achieved this through innovative re-use of most of the existing building, combined with new components, creating a bespoke solution that ensures the venue remains forward-looking, flexible, and adaptable to a variety of needs.
This comprehensive transformation was carried out by the international design team comprising of HOK, C.F. Møller Architects, and schlaich bergermann partner (sbp) working for the client Stockholm Globe Arena Fastigheter (SGAF) and delivered by the contractor NCC. HOK London based expertise played a crucial role in shaping the delivery.

“The renewal of Avicii Arena in Stockholm represents a significant European undertaking, demonstrating how HOK London's expertise in complex venue design was strategically deployed to revitalise an architectural icon. We worked closely with our Client SGAF (on behalf of the City of Stockholm), with the imperative to honour a heritage-listed structure while upgrading it for modern performance demands and expectations. This required a highly coordinated partnership between the HOK London Team, the Stockholm office of C.F. Møller Architects, Stuttgart-based structural engineers SBp, and a wider Design Team from Sweden and other European countries.

Our primary knowledge transfer centred on introducing technological flexibility and enhancing the visitor experience. We addressed the challenge posed by the massive spherical volume by conceiving a unique retractable acoustic ceiling system. This intricate design solution, supported by a newly integrated steel ring structure, allows the arena's reverberation time to be precisely optimised for different event types, ranging from ice hockey to intimate concerts.

The structural challenge was immense. SBp was instrumental in engineering the complex new compression ring and cable net structure, which supports the movable panels and modern rigging loads without compromising the original 1989 dome. This highly surgical intervention, a sustainable approach in itself, minimised demolition, proving that existing assets can be repurposed and advanced for the future.

Ultimately, this project showcases London's global expertise in judiciously balancing preservation with innovation. By blending HOK's international experience in multi-purpose Sports & Entertainment facilities (including new gondola seating inspired by our previous work in Detroit) with C.F. Møller's deep local knowledge and SBp's structural ingenuity, we ensured Avicii Arena remains a world-class, culturally significant, and technologically advanced venue for decades to come.”
Nuno Guerreiro, Project Designer at HOK