Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center

As entertainment venues age, they often require heavy renovations at one point or another. The redesign of the Central Bank Center, including the Rupp Arena and adjoining Convention Center is no exception. As one of the nation’s more storied entertainment destinations, it was crucial to preserve its unique history and to ensure its relevance for future generations. A design team of NBBJ and EOP Architects came together to re-envision its future.

Built in 1976, the goal was to keep the original structural towers, but create new spaces for exhibitions, ballrooms, and meeting spaces for a truly one-size-fits-all building. Our valuable relationship with Messer Construction and our willingness to work closely with NBBJ allowed us to help develop 18 different expansion joint systems throughout the project.