Work |
Climate Pledge Arena
Designed by Populous | Seattle, WA
Reimagining a Landmark Arena as a World Standard for Zero Carbon Performance
Climate Pledge Arena transforms one of the most energy-intensive building types into a high-performance, zero-carbon system. With McLennan Design as lead sustainability advisor, the project became the first arena in the world to achieve Zero Carbon Certification from the International Living Future Institute.
Working in collaboration with Oak View Group, Populous, and the Seattle Kraken, we guided the project from early vision through implementation—aligning design, infrastructure, and operations around a clear goal: eliminate fossil fuels and operate entirely on renewable energy.
The result is an 800,000-square-foot adaptive reuse that preserves its historic structure while fundamentally upgrading performance. Fully electric and net-zero carbon in operation, the arena demonstrates how large-scale venues can reduce risk, lower long-term operating costs, and deliver a materially better experience for both users and the city.
Our role continues beyond completion through co-leadership of the Climate Pledge Council—ensuring that performance is not a one-time achievement, but an evolving standard.
Oak View Group
Sustainability Consulting
Net Zero
Designed by Populous | Seattle, WA
80,000
2021
Puget Lowland (Level III EPA Ecoregion)
Arenas
McLennan Design: Strategic Sustainability Partner for Transformational Projects
At McLennan Design, we bring visionary leadership and deep technical expertise to the most ambitious sustainability projects in the world. As a trusted partner to architecture firms, developers, and institutions, we specialize in guiding large-scale developments toward extraordinary environmental performance—across sectors like sports, entertainment, cultural venues, and adaptive reuse.
As the sustainability leader for the Climate Pledge Arena team, McLennan Design helped steer the project to become the first arena in the world to achieve ILFI Zero Carbon Certification—transforming one of the most energy-intensive building typologies into a global icon of sustainability. Working closely with Populous and the Oak View Group, we embedded regenerative design strategies, coordinated third-party certifications, and helped establish operational frameworks like the Climate Pledge Council, ensuring the arena’s long-term climate leadership.
We bring this same strategic thinking to every partnership—collaborating seamlessly with design teams, ownership groups, and operations staff to craft credible, measurable, and inspiring sustainability trajectories. Whether it’s adaptive reuse, net-zero design, carbon accounting, or biophilic innovation, McLennan Design is the firm clients trust to help make the impossible inevitable.
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Photo Credit: DP Drones and Seattle Kraken
“If you’re in the Fortune 500 space and you’re looking to do something creative, innovative and sustainable, Jason is the person you talk to. He’s on that shortlist of international architectural presences who have the wherewithal to help you think about campus master planning and individual building elements and all connecting it to the global climate crisis that we have right now."
Rob Johnson
Vice President for Sustainability and Transportation for Climate Pledge Arena and the Seattle Kraken
ClimatePledgeArena_3
Photo Credit: Seattle Kraken
ClimatePledgeArena_4
Photo Credit: DP Drones
The vision was simple – to create the world’s first truly resilient, self-sustaining campus as a beacon of hope, leadership, and environmental stewardship. This lofty aspiration was grounded both in practical architectural solutions and an innovative educational curriculum. Inspired by the site’s unique position in a truly wild and biodynamic part of the world, the redesign of the campus was focused on bringing out potential opportunities for discovery, creativity, and education.
As the first arena to earn Zero Carbon certification from the International Living Future Institute, Climate Pledge Arena proves that complex, world-class venues can be both environmentally responsible and architecturally exceptional.
Facts & Figures
Photo Credit: DP Drones
Powered by Renewable Energy
Climate Pledge Arena runs on 100% renewable electricity. On-site solar arrays—spanning over 1,300 panels—generate approximately 440,000 kWh annually. To cover remaining energy needs, the arena procures verified Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), including from Puget Sound Energy’s Snake River wind farm. Beginning in 2025, the facility will transition to Seattle City Light’s Renewable Plus Program, drawing power from new regional wind and solar farms.
Advanced Water Reuse
Water conservation is integral to the arena’s design. A 15,000-gallon cistern collects rainwater from the roof to create what’s known as the NHL’s greenest ice—part of its innovative Rain-to-Rink system. The arena also features waterless urinals, ultra-efficient showers, and stormwater retention systems that protect Puget Sound from runoff.
Together, these systems reduce the facility’s environmental impact and showcase how large public venues can integrate clean energy and water stewardship at scale.
Climate Pledge Arena goes beyond reducing its own environmental impact—it actively shapes more sustainable visitor habits. Integrated transit connections, bike valet, EV charging, and free public transportation with every ticket make low-carbon access easy and appealing. Instead of being surrounded by parking lots, the arena is uniquely set within a park-like landscape, returning open space to the Seattle Center and community. As one of the largest private investments in Pacific Northwest sports and entertainment, the project is also a model for how venues can shift from being carbon-intensive to becoming climate-positive catalysts.
Photo Credit: DP Drones
“We have to see the world as one interconnected system of which we are just one critical part.”
– Jason F. McLennan
Climate Pledge Arena — Regenerative Leadership at Scale
McLennan Design served as lead sustainability consultant and strategic advisor for Climate Pledge Arena, guiding the transformation of the historic venue into the world’s first arena to achieve International Living Future Institute Zero Carbon Certification.
Working alongside Oak View Group and Populous, the team established a clear performance-driven vision: eliminate fossil fuels, operate on 100% renewable energy, and redefine what a large-scale sports and entertainment venue can achieve environmentally and operationally.
Key Contributions
Regenerative Design Leadership
Led the sustainability vision from concept through delivery—elevating the project beyond conventional “green building” toward a fully regenerative, zero-carbon operational model.
Certification Strategy + Delivery
Directed the pathway to ILFI Zero Carbon Certification and TRUE Platinum waste certification, aligning design, construction, and operations under a unified performance framework.
Decarbonization Framework
Advised on the complete elimination of fossil fuels in daily operations—enabling the arena to function entirely on renewable energy and setting a new benchmark for large venues.
Operational Performance + Governance
Co-developed the Climate Pledge Arena sustainability governance model, including leadership of the Climate Pledge Council, ensuring long-term accountability and performance beyond opening day.
Integrated Systems Innovation
Advanced high-impact systems including rainwater harvesting for ice production and all-electric ice resurfacing—demonstrating how infrastructure can serve multiple environmental functions simultaneously.
Impact
The redevelopment of the former KeyArena is not simply a renovation—it is a global proof point. By aligning design ambition with operational reality, the project establishes a new, replicable standard for climate-positive sports and entertainment venues.
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Awards & Recognition
Climate Pledge has been the recipient of numerous awards as a testament to the multi-disciplinary team and work by project consultants including:
Oak View Group, Populous, Rockwell Group, DCI Engineers, ME Engineers, and McLennan Design.
2024 World Architecture News: Overall Sustainable Architecture Project
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2023 Engineering News Record: Best of the Best Projects – Sports/Entertainment
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2023 Washington State Historic Preservation Office Awards: Outstanding Sustainable Rehabilitation
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2023 American Institute of Graphic Arts: Environmental/Experiential Design Awards
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2022 Sports Business Journal: Sports Facility of the Year
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2021 VenuesNow All-Stars: Venues and Innovation
