Avicii Arena modernization nominated for international engineering award

The Avicii Arena in Stockholm, a massive spherical structure standing 86 meters high, has been nominated for the Structural Awards 2026 by the Institution of Structural Engineers.

To address acoustic challenges and the technical requirements of modern stage productions, the arena underwent a significant internal modernization. Rather than rebuilding the landmark, engineers installed a new internal steel-and-cable framework consisting of rings, rods, and 2,400 meters of cables. This structure supports 452 movable acoustic panels that can be adjusted to suit different events, such as concerts or sporting matches, within ten minutes.

The project was designed by the German engineering firm schlaich bergermann partner (sbp). The winners of the awards are scheduled to be announced on November 6.