02 arena
Background
The O2 Arena is an entertainment complex on the Greenwich peninsula in London, United Kingdom. Since the arena opened it has hosted musical events, sports events including tennis, ice hockey, basketball, gymnastics, mixed martial arts, boxing and many more. With a seating capacity of 23,000, The O2 Arena has been the world’s busiest venue since 2008. The venue has also been awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering Mac Robert Award for its innovative structure.
Scope
The world famous “millennium dome” project was conceived by the UK government as a Festival of
Britain style showcase to celebrate the millennium. In June 2007 the dome was rebranded as The O2
Arena with a highly publicized transition into an entertainment centre. The complex includes an indoor arena, a music club, a cinema, an exhibition space plus bars and restaurants. RAK Ceramics manufactured and supplied Lounge Beige Series unpolished porcelain tiles for the floors and specially fabricated Lounge Beige Slab Porcelain for all the staircases including those leading up to the Royal Box.
Results
The slip resistant Lounge Series has left a lasting impact on the interiors of The O2 Arena. The venue was the most visited arena in the world in 2013 with over 2.3 million visitors attending events. In the seven years since installation the tiles and slabs have endured over 14 million footsteps and still look good! This is a testament to the strength and durability of RAK products guaranteeing high performance in a commercial environment.t