President Valdas Adamkus Athletics Arena

Let the sunshine in

The President Valdas Adamkus Athletics Hall in Kaunas combines top-class sport, daylight architecture and sustainability to create a pioneering athletics hall.

Design

ARCHAS

Location, integration, organization

With the President Valdas Adamkus Athletics Arena, which opened in November 2025, Kaunas has the most modern athletics hall in Lithuania. As an extension of the existing and neighboring stadium (S. Dariaus ir S. Girėno stadionas), it forms an integrated sports campus for top-level athletics, youth development and public use that can be used all year round.

The arena was designed by the Lithuanian architecture firm ARCHAS.

The compact plot and the proximity to the adjoining greenery played a decisive role in the architectural strategy. In order to visually reduce the building volume, the main hall was lowered around 1.5 meters into the ground. This measure facilitates integration into the surroundings and improves the lines of sight to the competition areas – these are a 200-meter circuit, a 60-meter sprint track and the jumping and throwing zones.

The ancillary rooms such as changing rooms, warm-up and massage rooms, medical areas and storage areas are located underground. Above this are publicly accessible uses: Café and conference areas, offices and extensive training and fitness areas (Startas Gym) with digital weight machines, free weights and cardio zones.

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Flexibility, daylight – and daylight

The President Valdas Adamkus Athletics Arena is consistently designed for versatility. A telescopic grandstand system allows flexible adjustment of spectator seating, from international competitions to daily training sessions or local events. In summer, when competitions take place in the neighboring stadium, athletes can use the hall to warm up, while in winter the arena itself becomes a competition venue.

The striking W‑shaped roof is a defining architectural feature. The north-facing skylights allow even, glare-free daylight into the hall – a decisive factor for athletics training without any disruptive sunlight or heat gains. At the same time, the geometry allows large spans with reduced material usage.

Spacious, column-free interiors ensure clear lines of sight and a high spatial quality. Transparent facades provide insights into training operations and strengthen the connection between sport and the public.

The south-facing roof surfaces are equipped with photovoltaic modules and cover part of the energy requirements. The building is heated via the central district heating network, which is increasingly fed by renewable energies.

Materiality, robustness and atmosphere

The façade consists of prefabricated reinforced concrete panels with a deeply textured surface reminiscent of oak bark – a deliberate reference to the neighboring oak forest (Ąžuolynas). The robust material guarantees durability, low maintenance, very good thermal properties and blends harmoniously into the sporting and scenic context of Žaliakalnis.

The concept of honest, robust materials continues inside: exposed concrete, steel and mineral surfaces ensure durability in intensive sports use, while oak wood adds a warm, tactile quality. Colorful accents in the underground functional areas enliven the rooms and create a motivating atmosphere.

In addition to energy-efficient building technology, the sensitive treatment of existing buildings also plays an important role. Existing trees were preserved and integrated into the open space design, creating a human scale and a pleasant microclimate.

The President Valdas Adamkus Athletics Arena is an example of contemporary sports architecture that combines high performance, suitability for everyday use and ecological responsibility. It not only strengthens Kaunas’ sports infrastructure, but also sets an architectural example for sustainable, flexible and future-proof sports facilities.

And the light is fantastic.