SCOPE Cultural and Convention Center (page 1 of two)

Pier Luigi Nervi
1971-72




The theater and arena

SCOPE is comprised of two buildings, one a circular arena, the other a rectangular theater, both for public events and entertainment. Below street level there are parking facilities and an exhibit hall under the raised podium. Both are of reinforced concrete, the preferred medium of the architectural engineer. (See also St. Mary's Cathedral).
 

Left: the arena from across the street; center and right: entrance into precinct with cast concrete "awning"

 
Twenty-four sculptural supports in a V-shape buttress the reinforced concrete dome. This arena is similar to the Palazzetto dello Sport designed by Nervi in Rome for the 1960 Olympics.

The buttresses

 

Right: the entrance



Go to page 2: the rectangular theater

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© 2002 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.

Page created by Mary Ann Sullivan