The modern velodrome in Szczecin, built on the site of the historic 1925 cycling track, is a unique project of national significance that combines contemporary architectural solutions with respect for one of the city’s most important sporting landmarks. The original open-air velodrome, commissioned by a German industrialist, was located within the Arkoński Forest. Between 1925 and 1929, it underwent substantial modernisation, including the installation of a reinforced concrete track surface. Remarkably, the facility survived the Second World War in relatively good condition, allowing cycling competitions to resume as early as 1946.
In the following decades, the velodrome underwent several modernisations. During the 1980s, upgrades included the installation of floodlighting, the construction of a car park, administrative and sanitary facilities, a sports hall, a hotel, and new access roads. The facility was later named in honour of Zbysław Zając, a Polish cyclist and 1964 Olympian. In 1998, the track was upgraded to meet international standards in preparation for hosting the European Track Cycling Championships for both women and men. Three years later, in 2001, it served as the venue for a round of the World Cup series.
Due to its deteriorating technical condition, the historic track was closed in 2021. Rather than demolish it, the investor and design team chose to preserve the original concrete structure and integrate it fully into the new sports complex. The concept envisaged a new oval sports hall constructed within the existing track’s infield, housing a wooden velodrome with a fixed seating capacity of 750 and provision for an additional 1,000 spectators via temporary grandstands. The sports hall is linked to a glazed, three-storey entrance pavilion whose volume appears to float above the preserved concrete track. This elevated structure forms a circulation bridge, connecting the external main entrance with the interior of the velodrome while offering panoramic views of the historic track below.
This design enables an unrestricted use of the outdoor concrete track – primarily used for summer training – and the indoor wooden velodrome, which supports year-round use and can host a wide range of sporting and non-sporting events.
In addition to the wooden cycling track and spectator seating, the sports hall accommodates multipurpose courts for handball, futsal, basketball, volleyball, and badminton. These areas can be divided by retractable curtains, enabling simultaneous, independent use. The adjoining glazed entrance pavilion contains the reception area, changing rooms, office and administrative spaces, as well as a bicycle rental point. The upper level features VIP lounges and a catering zone with direct access to roof terraces.
The design envisages the outdoor concrete track serving primarily as a training facility for both amateur and professional cyclists, usable year-round in favourable weather conditions. The new indoor wooden velodrome, built to the latest international standards, will enable all-weather training and host competitions at local, national, and international levels. Both tracks are designed to be fully accessible for athletes with disabilities.
The new velodrome will feature energy-efficient systems, including mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, heat pumps, and photovoltaic panels. All building operations will be monitored and controlled via an integrated Building Management System (BMS), enabling optimised energy consumption and enhancing the overall operational efficiency of the complex.
