26.04.2017
ZJA’s revamped Thialf ice arena has been nominated for the WAN Awards, an international architecture award. The ice arena has been nominated in the category Sport in Architecture.
Over a two-year period, Thialf was rebuilt and renewed in two phases. Since the reopening in January 2017, Thialf has been the world's most sustainable lowland track, using less than 50% energy than before. A high degree of thermal insulation, use of underground heat and cold storage as well as LED lighting contribute to this energy reduction. In addition, the renewed Thialf has over 5000 solar panels on the roof; the biggest solar roof on a stadium in the Netherlands. As a result, the ice skating arena largely provides for its own energy needs.
In January 2017, King Willem-Alexander inaugurated the renewed ice skating arena. Since the opening, the reactions are glorifying. "I've been here a couple of times and it's better than we could have dreamed of," said enthusiastic ice skater Sven Kramer to NUsport.