Philippine Arena: World's Largest Dome Arena

Korean builder strives to become one of the world’s 100 largest construction firms

Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corp. began work on the world’s largest domed arena in the Philippines on Thursday.

The work for the $175 million contract, signed on Aug. 4, got underway in a ceremony attended by Hanwha E&C officials including vice chairman Kim Hyun-chung and those from the Filipino Christian organization Iglesia Ni Cristo that issued the contract.

The facility located near Manila, named the Philippine Arena, will be fitted with 50,000 seats and its domed roof will be nearly 36,000 square meters, making it the world’s largest domed arena, the company said.

Hanwha E&C said that the work will be carried out over 30 months to be finished early 2014.

“By winning this contract for building the world’s largest dome arena, the company was able to prove its technological capabilities and the ability to carry out overseas projects,” Kim said in a statement. The company said that in the biddings for the contract, it competed with China’s Jiangsu International and the Philippines’ largest construction company EEI Corp. The project will be conducted in design-build process in which the contractor is responsible for all related processes from designing to building the facility, the company said.

“As the bridgehead for the Southeast Asian market, the project is expected to bring opportunities for more civil engineering and construction projects in the region.”

The project opens a new market for Hanwha E&C, which has focused mostly on the Middle Eastern markets, as it drives to become one of the world’s 100 largest construction companies.

Earlier this year Hanwha Engineering and Construction announced plans to become one of the world’s top 100 builders by 2015 with an annual sales figure of 5 trillion won ($4.65 billion), and win contracts worth 7 trillion won in that year.

The plans also revealed that the company will diversify its overseas portfolio to include civil engineering projects, and to expand into solar power and other renewable energy businesses.

Also as part of the plans, the company hopes to expand its overseas generated income by more than 20 percent each year with the aim of raising 40 percent of its annual revenues from overseas sources by 2015.

In the Middle East, Hanwha E&C has made significant headway this year, winning a series of contracts including an urban development project in Iraq.

The contract, issued by Iraq’s National Investment Commission, is valued at $7.25 billion, making it the largest overseas construction project to be won by a Korean construction firm.

Construction of the Arena was awarded to Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corp. (www.hwenc.com).

Architectural Design Consultant Andrew James of Populous, Architectural Design Consultant Chris Sparrow of Buro Happold, and Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corp. vice chairman Kim Hyun-chung, represented their respective firms in the Groundbreaking Ceremony held last week.

POPULOUS is a global design practice company with global offices in 12 major cities. The company specializes in comprehensive design services, including sports architecture, conference and exhibition center architecture, interior design, environmental graphics and way-finding, events planning and overlay, master planning, sustainable design consulting and facilities operations and analysis. Their portfolio of completed projects includes the Yankee Stadium, Hong Kong Stadium,and Dubai Autodrome. Populous was chosen to provide Architectural and Overlay Design Services for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games venues aside from the major function of providing designs for the main stadium.

BURO HAPPOLD is also a structural design firm with presence in America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Buro Happold is known worldwide for its Environmental Infrastructure designs for well-known modern landmarks of the world, to include Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Royal Shakespear Theatre(UK), SAbal Al Ahmad Sea City (Kuwait) to name a few.

Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corp. will take the helm in the construction of the edifice which is expected to complete in 30 months. The company is known for their efficient, state-of-the-art and massive building system that can allow them to create cities in shorter span of time.

Their current projects include the construction of a new town east of Bhagdad worth USD 7.25 Billion, and the development of the eco-friendly housing complex which is expected to accomodate approximately 12,000 housing, educational, cultural and commercial facilities in Incheon, South Korea.

The Philippine Arena would be a great place to house the most prestigious event of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) which is the Centennial (100th Anniversary) celebration by year 2014. It could be also a most spacious place to host a grandeur Grand Evangelical Mission (GEM) or it might be the next Olympic Games Arena.

According to the Korea Herald, Philippine Arena is estimated to be worth $175 million contract which was signed on August 4, 2011. It has a seating capacity of 50,000 (seats), floor area of 74,000 square meters and its domed roof is nearly 36,000 square meters which makes it the "World's Largest Dome Arena".

Hanwha E&C will work for the said project for over 30 months and will be completed by 2014. The company said that the project will be conducted in design-build process in which the contractor is responsible for all related processes from designing to building the facility.

"The Philippine Arena is three times bigger than the Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, Korea's largest indoor Arena", said a Hanwha E&C official.

INC said that the Philippine Arena will be built for the Centennial Project during the 100th Founding Anniversary of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) in July 27, 2014.

The picture below shows the area of location where the Philippine Arena is going to be built.