Co-op Live Arena Completion

The Commission Documentation of the UK’s largest indoor arena (23,500 capacity) for the main contractor, BAM Construct. The brief was to capture the scale and finish of this “Music-First” venue, highlighting the transition from the raw industrial scale of the performance bowl to the high-specification interior design of the premium hospitality suites.

Architectural Focus & Visual Narrative The photographic series documents the unique “Smart Bowl” design and the distinct operational zones within the venue:

The “Black Box” Bowl: Capturing the arena’s unique all-black interior—designed by Populous to focus attention solely on the stage. This presented a technical challenge of photographing vast, light-absorbing voids while retaining detail in the rigging structures and seating banks.

Premium Hospitality & VIP: Documenting the high-end interior fit-outs of the exclusive membership spaces, including the Bentley Record Room and The AMP Club. The imagery focuses on the tactile textures—velvet booth seating, brass fixtures, and ambient lighting—that differentiate these spaces from standard stadium concourses.

Circulation & Atmosphere: Showcasing the “Smart Building” features, specifically the neon-lit escalators and digital wayfinding. These shots capture the vibrancy and modern aesthetic of the fan experience before they even enter the main bowl.

Exterior Presence: Twilight and long-exposure photography of the “Stacked Box” exterior, emphasizing the integrated digital facade and the venue’s dominance on the East Manchester skyline.

Technical Deliverables A comprehensive architectural library delivered to the project stakeholders, demonstrating the successful handover of the UK’s first 100% electric, sustainable arena.