Address: 400 W Church St, Orlando, FL 32801

Work: KENPAT installed the interior framing, wood ceilings, acoustical panels, and wall panels throughout the arena.

General Contractor: Hunt Construction Company

Architect: Baker Barrios Architects

Dates: July 2008 – October 2010

Awards:

• 2011 ABC Central Florida Excellence in Construction Eagle Award

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KIA Center(1)

Situation

By the early 2000s, the Orlando Magic, led by team owner and Amway co-founder Richard DeVos, were actively advocating for a modernized arena to replace the aging Amway Arena (1989). Despite renovations, the existing venue lacked contemporary amenities, revenue-generating features like mid-level luxury suites, and advanced technological infrastructure. In 2006, after extensive negotiations, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty, and the Orlando Magic reached an agreement to construct a new 18,846-seat(2) state-of-the-art facility downtown. The $1.05 billion revitalization project included a new performing arts center and an expansion of the Citrus Bowl.

Construction began in 2008, with Turner Construction (Turner) leading a multi-contractor effort.

Task

Turner Construction selected KENPAT to install interior framing, wood ceilings, acoustical panels, and wall panels throughout the arena. The project required precise coordination due to its diverse material types, long lead times, and limited on-site storage. KENPAT also had to navigate high-altitude installations for critical elements such as the halo soffit and acoustical baffles, ensuring both safety and design precision in an arena built for world-class events.

Action

The project included 24 distinct acoustical ceiling systems, incorporating grid and tile products sourced from across the United States and abroad, with some materials requiring lead times of 12 to 16 weeks. Given the arena’s limited storage capacity, KENPAT implemented a strategic procurement process to ensure smooth installation.

Key Architectural Features:
• Custom linear wood ceilings – Magic Boardroom and corridor
• Perforated wood ceilings and aluminum light coves – Bunker and Owner’s Suite
• Custom radius ceiling trims – City Offices
• Metal-faced acoustical wall panels – Upper bowl perimeter
• Leather-wrapped wall panels – Magic Lounge
• Fabric-wrapped acoustical panels – Magic Boardroom, Mercedes Restaurant and arena bowl

Complex Installations:
• Halo Soffit: KENPAT installed an engineered, suspended metal-framed soffit with a gypsum board finish, encircling the arena bowl 115 feet above the event-level floor. The installation required a quadrant-based scaffolding system to ensure safe access for all trades.
• Acoustical Baffles: To enhance acoustics, KENPAT suspended poly-wrapped acoustical baffles from the arena’s steel structure via cables. Due to the installation complexity, professional climbers worked overnight shifts, using specialized clamps, harnesses, and triple-tie-off safety protocols to navigate the roof trusses safely.

Result

The KIA Center has become one of Orlando’s premier entertainment venues, hosting a diverse range of events, from sports championships to globally renowned concerts.

Notable Events Hosted:
• 2012 NBA All-Star Game
• 2013 ArenaBowl XXVI (Arena Football League Championship)
• 2014 & 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (Early rounds)
• 2016 WWE Royal Rumble & 2017 WrestleMania 33 events
• 2020 WWE ThunderDome Residency (Bio-secure events during COVID-19)

Major Concerts:
• Paul McCartney – Out There Tour (2013)
• Elton John – Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour (2019)
• Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Madonna, U2, Metallica, Coldplay (Various world tours)

KENPAT delivered on the arena’s complex architectural and acoustic requirements, ensuring both aesthetic and functional excellence. This outstanding work earned KENPAT the 2011 ABC Central Florida Excellence in Construction Eagle Award.