O2 Arena’s Iconic Dome Ripped Open By Storms

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners’ O2 Arena in London has been partially shredded by high winds, with huge portions of its PTFE-coated glass fiber roof being torn off. Videos spreading across social media have revealed the extent of the damage to the iconic dome, and the arena has been closed so assessments of the structure can be made.

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Housed within the repurposed Millennium Dome, the O2 Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the centre of The O2 entertainment complex on the Greenwich Peninsula in southeast London. While the dome was designed by RSH+P and completed in 1999 as a temporary venue, it was transformed by Populous into a permanent entertainment complex in 2007. It has the second-highest seating capacity of any indoor venue in the United Kingdom, behind the Manchester Arena, and in 2008 was the world’s busiest music arena.

“The affected areas have been cleared, and The O2 will remain closed for the rest of the day,” an arena spokesperson said. “The safety of our visitors remains of paramount importance, and we will continue to assess the ongoing situation and act accordingly.”