Mikkelsen Arkitekter A/S

Thorvald Ellegaard Arena

THORVALD ELLEGAARD ARENA

Mikkelsen Architects

Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
© Søren Aagaard

MANUFACTURERS
Taiyo, Hans Jørgensen & Søn Entreprenører A/s, Junek Velodromes

PHOTOGRAPHS
Søren Aagaard

AREA
7200 m²

YEAR
2014

LOCATION
Odense, Denmark

CATEGORY
Sports Filed

Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
© Søren Aagaard

The new Cycling and Athletics Arena is located in a diversely built area in Odense, Denmark’s third largest city.

The building is sunken into the topography of the site, keeping its visual impact on the immediate surroundings to a minimum. Within this context, the new 7,200 square meter velodrome asserts its presence with clear geometric form.

Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
© Søren Aagaard
Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
© Søren Aagaard

An initial desire to create a public facility for the bigger number as well as the elite, led to the creation of accessible racing tracks designed to high international standards.

The arena interprets the configuration of Roman Amphitheatres, built as oval open-air venues and used for large public events. A lightweight membrane tops the inclusive design spanning across its entire length and width.

Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
© Søren Aagaard
Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
© Søren Aagaard

Inspired by the idea of the simple shelter as a place to meet while protected from the outdoors, the semi-transparent featherweight roof creates an informal open space, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside.

The structure was made possible by basing its geometry on the section of a torus, a revolving three-dimensional doughnut-like surface.

Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
© Søren Aagaard
Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
© Søren Aagaard

Steel trusses located up to 15 meters apart the long of this curvature allow for a uniform frame, thus simplifying the construction process. A 250m long timber track runs along the perimeter of the building, encompassing the running tracks and other amenities.

The roof membrane provides an aesthetic yet affordable solution. Radiant heating systems installed directly above the banked oval track ensure an even distribution of warmth as well as efficient energy use throughout.

Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
Section AA and BB
Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
Diagram

Using a cost-effective low-energy approach, the Arena stands out as a state-of- the-art multifunctional public space.


Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
Elevations
Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
Plan


Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
Structure Detail
Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
Union Detail
Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
Union Detail 
Thorvald Ellegaard Arena
Structure Detail

Mikkelsen Arkitekter A/S
T +45 7230 2050
Mikkelsen Arkitekter A/S
Vesterbrogade 95A, 1620 København, Denmark