M-Wave Nagano Olympic Speed Skate Arena (1993)
DESCRIPTION: Approximately 35,000m2 (376,000sf) speedskating ice arena for 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

CLIENT: City of Nagano, Japan.

CONCEPT: An oval shape with flattened peak-ends becomes the overall shape, utilizing large batten-like cladding sections that allow natural light into translucent joints. A translucent service slot the entire length of the building for mechanical and other systems separates the shell in halves. Two structural service towers erupt out of the slot and support the shell.

DESIGN TEAM: Project coordinator: Masahiro Hanyu. Project architect: Masaru Ozaki. Project manager: Takeshi Miyazaki. Structure: Shigeru Ban, Arata Yoshida, Hiroshi Ogawa. Mechanical: Hideo Totsuka, Tadashi Kiuchi. Conceptual design for this alternative: A. Scott Howe.

COST: Estimated 21.5 billion yen.

DATE: Summer 1993.

STATUS: Constructed for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

As constructed (wireframes by Howe, renderings by Howe & Kajima VIC team):

Photos by others:
A Scott Howe, PhD