ARCHITIZER A+AWARDS 2025 Winner
Arhitizer A+Awards 2025 Popular Choice Winner
OPEN ARENA | National Athletics Center, Budapest has been named an A+Awards Winner
Sustainable Sports and Recreation Building category
Double Hungarian success at the world's most prestigious architectural competition: the National Athletics Center won the audience award!
Budapest’s iconic sports facility, the National Athletics Center, has achieved unparalleled success at one of the world’s most significant architectural competitions, the 13th Architizer A+ Awards. After being selected by the prestigious professional jury among the top five entries from over 80 countries, the Hungarian building was able to participate in the public vote and won the public award in both categories based on hundreds of thousands of votes. This made it the best in the world in the Stadium and Arena, as well as the Sustainable Sports and Recreation Building categories.
The unparalleled double victory means that the facility hosting the 2023 World Athletics Championships is not only considered one of the world's elite by the professional jury, but has also won the hearts of an international audience interested in architecture.
"I can honestly say that I am extremely proud of this double award, and I would like to thank the entire NAPUR Architect team and all our partners for their joint work" – said Marcel Ferencz, Kossuth Prize-winning architect and lead designer of NAPUR Architect Kft., the center's designer. “The greatest recognition for an architect is when a building is loved and appreciated not only by the profession but also by the public. The two public awards – one for the iconic stadium function and one for its sustainable and community character – perfectly justify our vision that the National Athletics Center is more than an arena: a place that is open, alive and lovable for everyone. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this wonderful success with their votes. This victory is shared!”
The unique crown of the queen of sports in Budapest
The National Athletics Center was built by the Hungarian State on behalf of the Hungarian State, based on the designs of NAPUR Architect Kft., and executed by the consortium of ZÁÉV Zrt. – Magyar Építő Zrt. The building was realized by the complete rehabilitation of a former industrial area in the spirit of sustainability. The building, symbolizing the crown of the queen of sports, referring to athletics, was completed for the outstandingly successful 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
After the competition, the stadium was transformed in a unique way in the world: in place of the upper stand, a nearly 15 thousand square meters panoramic leisure park was created, open to everyone and free to use. This made the National Athletics Center the first “Open Arena” in the world that, after a major sporting event, serves leisure sports and an active lifestyle with new, community functions. This sustainable model and community approach also contributed to the prestigious international awards it has just won.
