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The Urban Design Impact of a New Sports Arena in Downtown Cincinnati

  • Sawyer Point Office Building Atrium 720 East Pete Rose Way Cincinnati, OH, 45202 United States (map)

Location

Sawyer Point Office Building Atrium

CEUs Cost

Pending Free

Program Overview

Civic advocates propose a new sports arena for the city to replace the aging Heritage Bank Center on the riverfront. The proposal promises expanded programming, enhanced entertainment value, and additional economic impact. A recent study sponsored by the Cincinnati Regional Chamber identifies and evaluates three potential sites for this program outside of its current location. This presentation and panel discussion will highlight the urban design implications of arena development at each of these potential sites. The event offers AIA membership an opportunity to gain insight into the urban design impact of a massive new building program for the city center and allows members to contribute their expertise in dialogue about how best to integrate the outcome into the urban context. Pete Metz will present the site study with commentary from a panel of urban design experts.

Presented by AIA Cincinnati’s Urban Design Committee. Hospitality provided by Judith Lewis, principal City Lands Development Company.

Read more about the arena site proposals:

New Arena Feasibility Study

Heritage Bank Center

Cincinnati Enquirer 9.19.2024 (may be paywall protected)

Cincinnati Enquirer 11.18.2024  (may be paywall protected)

Cincinnati Business Courier 11.18.2024 (may be paywall protected)

WVXU 11.18.2024

WVXU 12.16.2024

WVXU 1.8.2025

Cincinnati Business Courier 3.20.2025 (may be paywall protected)

WVXU 3.20.2025

Speaker

Pete Metz, Vice President, Civic & Regional Partnerships, Cincinnati Regional Chamber

Pete is responsible for connecting the Cincinnati Chamber and its members to the region’s most pressing civic and regional initiatives. Pete leads the team working on existing Chamber initiatives such as the Connected Region, work focused on Embracing Growth and housing, the Cincinnati Futures Commission, and the Center for Research & Data.

As part of this work, Pete led the business community’s efforts to expand investments in transportation that connects people to jobs, education, healthcare and all that the Cincinnati region has to offer. Pete has successfully advocated for local, state, and federal policies that have driven hundreds of millions of dollars into transportation projects across the Cincinnati region, including dedicated funding for Cincinnati Metro, the Brent Spence Bridge, Western Hills Viaduct, record state funding for public transit, investments in the CROWN trail network, and more.

In the community, Pete serves on the board of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), the Corporation for Findlay Market, OKI Regional Council of Governments and as the Board President for NEST, Northside’s community development corporation. He lives in Clifton with his wife, Becca, and two daughters.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe a major civic building typology and its impact on the well-being of occupants and communities.

  • Appreciate the broad criteria used for site selection including social, economic, and environment considerations

  • Comprehend progressive and safe construction logistics for large scale building programs on constrained urban sites

  • Explain the potential impact of large scale building programs on the physical urban context and the people who experience them.

Continuing Education Details

Course Number: G2025.f

Instructional Delivery Method: live

AIA CES Program Approval Expiration Date: TBD

Prerequisites: none

Program Level: beginner

Advance Learner Preparation: none

AIA CES Provider Statement

AIA Cincinnati is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number 088. All registered AIA CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider or this learning program may be sent to AIA CES (cessupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).

This learning program is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.


During this program, photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By attending this program, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, web casts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by AIA Cincinnati and its affiliates and representatives. Images, photos and/or videos may be used to promote similar AIA Cincinnati in the future, highlight the program, and exhibit the capabilities of AIA Cincinnati.

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