The Kalamazoo Event Center is the result of over two decades of visioning to meet the region’s growing need for a modern, multipurpose arena. Originally explored as a convention center or multiuse sports campus, the idea evolved in response to community and urban development needs. A 2021 feasibility study by CSL International confirmed the opportunity: increased downtown activity, improved infrastructure, and new funding mechanisms made now the time to act. Western Michigan University, together with the Kalamazoo Wings and other partners, selected the combined team of ROSSETTI and TowerPinkster for their national expertise and local presence. With TowerPinkster’s long-standing commitment to the initiative and ROSSETTI’s experience designing high-performance event venues, the team was positioned to deliver a forward-thinking facility deeply rooted in place.
At over 426,000 square feet, the event center is thoughtfully organized into four primary components: the main arena, basketball practice courts, a practice ice sheet, and a flexible multipurpose event hall. The main arena will serve as home to WMU hockey and basketball, as well as the Kalamazoo Wings hockey team, while also hosting a wide range of university and community events. The basketball practice courts and practice ice sheet are purposefully integrated with each team's areas to optimize training, recovery, and game-day operations. Hockey teams access both the main arena and practice ice sheet from event-level team spaces, while basketball teams benefit from second-level access to dedicated courts. These direct connections reinforce performance goals while creating a unified culture for athletes, coaches, and staff. The multipurpose event hall adds valuable year-round activation and is supported by back-of-house amenities for catering and flexible event use. This facility is designed not just to host games but to serve as a civic hub for Kalamazoo and the region.
Aesthetically, the design celebrates Kalamazoo’s identity through four distinct architectural expressions. Each program block is tailored with unique materials and forms to honor the city’s cultural and physical landscape while reducing the overall scale of the facility. The arena features a brick façade that echoes the textures of downtown and the historic pedestrian mall, with transparency to connect the interior and exterior. The basketball block uses warm wood to evoke movement and energy. The ice sheet takes cues from fractured ice, using glass and metal in geometric form. The event hall draws inspiration from Kalamazoo’s agricultural past, specifically celery farming, featuring vertical slices and layered materials that convey growth, transparency, and seasonality. These distinct volumes are unified through a common palette and rhythm. The venue is further tied to the city by the relocated Arcadia Creek, which flows through the site and connects to the new Downtown Commons public plaza.
The impact of this once-in-a-century project is expected to be transformative. Through a highly collaborative process with Western Michigan University, the City of Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo Wings, and private donors, this shared vision reflects the aspirations of the entire community. Upon completion in 2028, the facility is projected to host more than 230 events per year, from university games and concerts to regional tournaments and community gatherings. According to the 2021 feasibility study, the center will generate over $54 million annually in regional economic impact. More than just a building, the Kalamazoo Event Center will become a cultural anchor for generations to come, establishing itself as a truly world-class facility that looks forward, not back.
Renderings by TowerPinkster.
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