arena | architecture

Easy to adapt
Building a fusion of function, beauty

By LUANNE J. HUNT

FROM ITS GIANT PICTURE WINDOW in the main entry to a profile that appears to take off into the sky, the new Citizens Business Bank Arena will no doubt stand as one of the most interesting pieces of architecture in the Inland Empire.

In 2005, Ontario city officials and designers at Rossetti Associates teamed up to create a building that is highly functional as well as beautiful. John Truong, Rossetti's lead designer for the project, said there are unexpected architectural elements at every turn.

"At the southeast corner, we have a larger glass curtain wall which has large areas at the top,” Truong said. "However, the northeast corner has the opposite design element where the glass is narrow at the top and flared out at the main plaza level.

"And each area inside has its own color scheme. The upper Skybox Bar backdrop is a vibrant red to offset the dark stone counter. The San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino VIP Club has a blue theme to honor the city's color. The exclusive Founders Club is a red-berry color."

Otto Kroutil, Ontario's development director, said the 225,000-square-foot building was years in the making.

Ontario acquired the land for the building in 1998 and began searching for an individual or corporation to finance its construction. Kroutil said after a promising deal fell through, city officials decided to take on the project themselves.

The first step was to contact Rossetti Associates, a Michigan-based architectural firm with offices in El Segundo and Newport Beach.

The firm had already drawn up schematic plans in 2000 for a minor league hockey team owner who was interested in building an arena. Tom Andreoli, a project manager for Rossetti, said the basic concept for the Arena's design was obvious from the beginning.

"Most importantly, everyone involved wanted the arena to be tied into the urban fabric,"

Andreoli said. "And we also wanted to take advantage of the historic mountain backdrop. The roof was shaped in such a way that there's good visibility of the mountains.

"One really great design element inside is a big picture window in the main entry where you can see what's going on in the arena. We wanted to give people a glimpse at what to expect at the event before they entered." Truong describes the Arena's profile as appearing to take off into the sky and be in constant motion. He also said it is built on several levels, which makes it more visually appealing. Palm trees stand at the lower level, while tall column lights line the upper level.

Beyond aesthetics, other factors in the building's design were freeway accessibility, and enough interior and exterior space to hold up to 11,000 patrons. Weather also was a consideration; entrances on the south side were built to be protected from strong Santa Ana winds.

Additionally, the Arena needed to be able to be adjusted for different types of events. For instance, a typical concert setup would be a U-shaped configuration with the stage at the west side of the Arena. For hockey and basketball, seats surround the rink or court.

Design of the backstage area also was given consideration, according to Truong.

"There is so much competition in the industry, and if the back of the house isn't designed in a way that works for the operators and performers, then it doesn't matter what amenities you have," said Truong, whose firm also designed The Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. "I would say that as far as the interior, the functionality was a prime consideration for us." Citizens Business Bank Arena consists of three levels: Concourse, Event and Skybox. It houses 36 VIP suites, as well as numerous refreshment stands and merchandise kiosks. There are 9,500 fixed seats with additional portable seat risers to accommodate capacities of 11,089 for a concert, 9,736 for hockey and 10,832 for basketball.

"It's a very functional design," said Steve Eckerson, general manager of AEG, the company that manages the Arena.

"And there's not a bad seat in the house.

The artists will also have a great experience, because the amenities for them are great.

"Excitement is already spreading, and we have a waiting list for the suites. The club seats are almost gone, too. From everything I've been hearing, this is something everyone has been waiting for." The Arena will be the centerpiece of the $900 million Piemonte at the Ontario Center, an urban, mixed-use project with Class A office space, specialty retail, a 275-room hotel, dining facilities and urban housing. It will offer everything from concerts and sporting events to family shows and all types of community activities.

Along with hosting a Lakers preseason game, the facility also will be home of the Ontario Reign ice hockey team of the ECHL — a professional development league for the National Hockey League.

"Our goal is to create the kind of city where everything is close by,” Kroutil said.

"We built the Arena because we feel our residents shouldn't have to drive all the way to Los Angeles or Orange County to see a concert or a basketball game.

And we also want it to be a place for the community to connect."

Ontario City Manager Greg Devereaux said most of the $150 million it cost to build the Citizens Business Bank Arena came from the sale of 193 acres of land the city purchased in 1997 from the Lewis Group Of Companies and Sares-Regis Group.

"We bought the land for $2 a square foot, so it was obviously a very profitable venture,” Devereaux said. "The money we made, in addition to a small amount given to us from city surplus, made it possible to not have to take out a loan.

"We own the Arena free and clear, which is what (the) City Council wanted.

The revenue we earn, which is a guaranteed $1 million a year, will go right back into the general fund."

Although the prices of concert and sporting event tickets are comparable to most other arenas, Eckerson says concession items will be priced somewhat lower than at Los Angeles venues. He also said family shows at the Arena will be affordable.

"The Inland Empire has over 4 million people, and it will continue to grow," Eckerson said. "So this Arena is coming at the perfect time. I am very pleased at how it's all come together and am very optimistic about its success."