The City of Vilnius approved Hanner, a Lithuanian developer, to build the Business Stadium Central – a game-changing multi-functional development designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. This project is set to become the heartbeat of Vilnius City, featuring two gorgeous low-rise towers of 8 and 9 stories, joined together by a courtyard atrium and two floors of public amenities. With a whopping total area of 24,000 sqm., this innovative project will be an integral part of the Vilnius City Plan.
One of the most striking features of the Business Stadium Central is the way it reinterprets the dynamic geometries of the existing civic architecture in the area and incorporates 11,750 sq. m of landscaped terraces, roof gardens, and plazas that open directly onto the public square designed by Martha Schwartz. The atrium courtyard is lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops, making it a vibrant and welcoming space for local residents, office workers, and visitors.
The design of the Business Stadium Central is flexible, with maximum adaptability for the life-cycle of the development. The central floors of each of the towers offer flexible office spaces that differ in size and layout to suit a variety of companies, from new start-ups to established international corporations. The workplaces connect with landscaped roof gardens and terraces offering stunning views of the surrounding city. The glazed facades with external louvers transform into a warmer timber-based material palette of the interiors.
The Business Stadium Central is designed with sustainable building systems that will reduce the development’s embodied carbon in construction and its energy use in operation. Digital optimization design processes have minimized the number of materials required for the structure, and are integrated with procurement systems that increase the project’s recycled content. The timber for the interiors will be from certified local sources, and all specified materials are evaluated to enable disassembly and reuse at the end of the building’s operational life.
The Business Stadium Central has been designed to optimize solar heat gain in colder periods while reducing direct exposure to the summer sun. Sustainable building systems, such as natural hybrid ventilation for most of the year, high-efficiency heat exchange and recovery systems, and double-insulated low-E glazing, provide excellent levels of natural light throughout all public spaces and workplaces.
Construction of the Business Stadium Central is planned to start in the second quarter of this year. The project creates a variety of new public spaces and amenities for the city, encouraging interaction and collaboration together with extensive health and wellness facilities for use by everyone in Vilnius. The curvature of the center’s facades and its cantilevered balconies face towards the historic Gediminas Castle Tower, making it a stunning addition to the heart of the city.
Project Team
Client: Hanner
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)
Design: Patrik Schumacher
ZHA Project Directors: Gianluca Racana, Ludovico Lombardi
ZHA Project Associate: Michele Salvi
ZHA Project Team: Alessandra Laiso, Alexandra Fisher, Giovanni Basile, Ivo Ambrosi, Szu-An Yao, Zrinka Radic
ZHA Competition Project Directors: Gianluca Racana, Ludovico Lombardi
ZHA Competition Associate: Davide del Giudice
ZHA Competition Project Leads: Alexandra Fisher, Jose Eduardo Navarrete Deza
ZHA Competition Team: Maria Lagging, Lara Zakhem
Local Architect: Unitectus
Structural Engineers: Ribinis b?vis
Façade Engineering: Staticus
MEP: Eva Danovska
Fire Engineer: GSCentras
