AECOM execs who are designing the NBA Kings' proposed downtown arena "will present plans" today to a city commission "for a less bulky structure," according to a front-page piece by Tony Bizjak of the SACRAMENTO BEE. The reps "will offer the latest arena and plaza iterations" to Sacramento's Planning & Design Commission at City Hall for its approval." The commission then "will send its recommendations on the design to the City Council for a final review May 13." Architects will be "knocking about 15 feet off the eight-story structure’s height, and eliminating most of the building’s outward slant of about 20 feet at the top." AECOM Design Principal Rob Rothblatt said that this "gives the arena a more upright posture ... helping it fit better in downtown’s tight confines." With the new plans, the building "maintains the see-through look it had when presented publicly in late January." The building also "retains its unique half-block-long front entry, dominated by five glass aircraft hangar doors that can fold upward to create a five-story opening." Architects "made a few other plaza changes, including eliminating a planned sunken 'bosque' or quiet area, and eliminating plans for a permanent grandstand-like structure." Designers said that the changes "only slightly reduce the overall square footage of the building and do not reduce the number of seats, expected to be 17,500." Kings officials "declined to discuss the effect of the changes" on the building’s $448M price tag. However, Rothblatt said that architects "have been instructed to keep the budget at its current level." Kings President Chris Granger previously said that the budget "will not top" $448M (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/10).
