Five architecture teams have been shortlisted to design a £91m entertainment arena at the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone in Bristol, UK.
The selected firms are Grimshaw Architects, IdomIngeniería y Consultoría, Populous, White Arkitekter and Wilkinson Eyre.
Subject to final negotiations and cabinet approval, a preferred operator for the new Bristol Arena has been selected and is likely to be announced iDecember.
The selection process was initiated in August when an international competition was launched by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), which attracted entries from more than 30 architects across the world.
The shortlisted teams have until January 2015 to submit detailed proposals for the 12,000-seat arena, which will stand on a former diesel depot.
Bristol Mayor George Ferguson said: “I am also delighted with the level of high level interest that we have had in the RIBA design competition.
“We have been through a rigorous selection process to settle on a competition shortlist of five extremely talented design teams with a wealth of experience between them.
“I am confident that the new arena will provide one of the very best experiences for audiences and major acts, and that it will make a huge contribution to the regeneration of the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.
“This takes us a couple of major steps closer to a 2017 delivery of this much-needed venue for the city region.”
In March 2015, the arena operator is due to be named,which will be responsible for programming, maintaining and managing the venue under a 25-year lease and providing design input.
Works will commence early in 2016 and Bristol Arena is scheduled to be opened in 2017.
