Be the first to see a first look at plans for new OKC Thunder arena.
Manica Architecture debuted this video, walking viewers through the future of Oklahoma City Thunder basketball, which was unveiled during this year’s State of the City address.
Provided by MANICA
The architectural renderings of Oklahoma City’s new $1 billion arena have been revealed, and Oklahomans were not disappointed.
From the glass curtain facade to the extensive landscaping, and from the long-awaited Thunder Alley to the elevated main entrance, Manica Architecture has painted a picture of the future in Oklahoma City.
Here’s what to know about David Manica, the man behind the designs of the future home of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Who is David Manica, the architect of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s new arena?
Manica, 54, is a Kansas City-based architect. He previously told The Oklahoman that while he’s not a huge sports fan, designing sports venues is his bread and butter.
His list of design accomplishments is long. But first, his passion for architecture began when he was just a kid, drawing pictures of houses he’d seen in the notes section of the Sunday church bulletin.
Eventually, this passion blossomed into studying architecture at the University of Kansas and getting hired in 1994 at HOK, the global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm. Over the past three decades, he has designed an array of high-profile buildings, and he opened his own firm in 2007.
What to know about David Manica’s past designs
Some of the iconic buildings Manica has designed, either through previous firms or his own, Manica Architecture, include:
New Wembley Stadium in West London.Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, home to the Las Vegas Raiders.Chase Center in San Francisco, home to the Golden State Warriors.Lusail Stadium in Qatar, where the last World Cup finals were held.Reliant Stadium, now NRG, home to the Houston Texans and the first NFL stadium to have a retractable roof.Wukesong Arena, the basketball venue for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.VTB Arena in Russia.Camp Nou in Spain, the home of FC Barcelona.