Dickies Arena – where elegance, tradition & innovation come together
With a $540 million dollar price tag, it is no surprise that the Forth Worth Dickies Arena is a sight to behold. First, there is the sheer size of the multipurpose arena: 14 000 seats, a 2 200-car parking garage, 100 000 square feet of exhibition space, a 716 000 square-foot arena offering 360-degree video playback, 36 suites, 32 loge boxes, and more. Then, there is the style. Inspired by the colonial look of its predecessor, built in the 1930s, the Dickies Arena was described by HKS administrator Eric Nelson as “a rodeo arena designed like an opera house.” The space features grand staircases, chandeliers, soaring stained glass art and a rich colour palate.
Beaubois was called in to contribute to a wide range of spaces. Various types of countertops and supports, paneling, trim, wainscoting and baseboards, made from marble, quartzite, MDF, walnut wood, cherry wood, solid stainless steel, and stainless steel sheets were made for all columns in the main entrance, for the box office, bathrooms, loge boxes, various public spaces, staircases, etc. To complete this project as intended by HKS architects, Beaubois worked with 11 subcontractors specializing in high-end metalwork.
The arena’s bars now showcase some of Beaubois’ finest work. In the two-story South Club lounge, a 60-foot onyx and glass bar with zinc countertop is set under a high-polish stainless steel ceiling providing a mirror effect. In the TX Whiskey bar, a solid copper countertop with stainless trim combines with dappled sapele and mahogany columns and ceiling to create an opulent feel, while the North Club features glass shelving, marble countertops and walnut paneling with stainless marquetry.
