The Māris Štrombergs BMX track in Valmiera, Latvia, honors the two-time Olympic and World Champion from Latvia and stands as a landmark in both global BMX sports and regional sports infrastructure. This track is unique worldwide, designed not only to meet UCI (International Cycling Union) standards for athlete comfort and safety but also to showcase architectural aesthetics.
Architect Ilze Rukmane Poča highlights that this facility is more than a practical sports venue—it is a bold statement and a distinctive icon for the city of Valmiera.
The track is situated within the Vidzeme Olympic Center in Štrombergs’ hometown of Valmiera, Latvia’s sixth-largest city. Covering over 15,500 square meters, it features starting ramps of 3, 5, and 8 meters in height. Each straight section is at least 8 meters wide, expanding to 14 meters at the corners, with a total track length just under one kilometer.
Notably, this is the world’s only BMX track capable of holding three simultaneous races from different starting gates, allowing for more efficient competitions and saving valuable time.
The jumping platforms and corners are built with a clay surface layered over drainage, anti-freezing sand, and coarse mineral materials to ensure durability and performance. Thomas Hamon, a seasoned expert from Pro Tracks and the designer of the Tokyo Olympics BMX track, contributed to the track’s layout and competition venue design.
The starting area building consists of two rectangular structures arranged at a 10-degree angle to each other. This arrangement helps shield athletes from strong winds during the start of races.
The design reflects the principle of “form follows function,” famously established by American architect Louis Sullivan. To maximize durability and functionality, the building employs a robust combination of metal, concrete, and wood. Metal dominates both the load-bearing structure and decorative details, while the wooden elements are crafted from natural, lightly bleached deciduous pine.
Extensive research on BMX rules and techniques informed the architectural design, focusing on rhythm and dynamics—key elements for BMX success. The building’s main facade features two symbolic images of Māris Štrombergs created with perforated metal. One depicts the athlete crouched mid-air before landing a jump, and the other captures the moment of victory at the finish line with an Olympic gold medal.
These stylized and exaggerated images provide emotional depth to the project and are visible from a distance along the city’s main streets. Their dynamic energy contrasts powerfully with the static structure of the building.
Under the starting hill, integrated wooden structures provide versatile spaces for theoretical lessons, BMX bike maintenance, lectures, athlete lounges, and coaching courses. Latvian BMX coach Ivo Lakučs praised the facility, stating, “This venue supports the highest level of competition, as it is thoughtfully designed, comfortable, safe, and perfectly tailored to BMX sport requirements.”
Within six months of opening, the modern BMX track hosted both the 2019 Latvia BMX Cycling Championships and the European BMX Championships, attracting 1,060 athletes from 26 European countries.
This project is regarded as the most ambitious sports facility constructed in Latvia in 2019. As Māris Štrombergs states, “The future of this track will be as great as the future we create ourselves. It has every chance to leave a lasting impression!”
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ Plan View
△ Plan View
△ Plan View
△ Plan View
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
Project Information
Architect: Balta Istaba
Area: 15,549 m²
Project Year: 2019
Photographer: Eriks Bozis
Lead Architect: Ilze Rukmane Poča (Balta Istaba)
Design Team: Balta Istaba – Ilze Rukmane Poča, Zane Dālmane, Modris Fersters, Gatis Grāvers
Client: Valmiera City Council
Structural Engineers: Celu Comforts – Edgars Leitis; Trendfor – Girts Viksna, Juris Orlovs, Liga Gaile; OzT – Gastons Gaspuitis
Landscape Design: Balta Istaba, Celu Comfort – Edgars Leitis
Consultant: Ivo Lakučs, Latvian BMX coach and technical consultant for BMX track and building
General Contractor: Balta Istaba
Technology and Road Infrastructure: Celu Comfort – Edgars Leitis
Construction: Trendfor – Girts Viksna, Juris Orlovs, Liga Gaile
Metal Structure Details: OzT – Gastons Gaspuitis
Indoor and Outdoor Engineering: Elektro Projekti – Guntis Dzerins
HVAC: Environmental Engineering Project Design Office – Aleksandrs Bulatnikov
Water Supply: Inga Meirāne
Rainwater and Sewage Treatment: Inga Meirāne, Edgars Leitis
Electronic Communication and Fire Automation Systems: Pro Projekts – Agris Lapsuks, Ilgvars Kozlovs
Fire Safety: PFS – Aigars Melnalksnis
Energy Efficiency Calculation: Jaunriga EKO – Edgars Stumrovics
Economic Department: Janis Ozols
Author: Balta Istaba
Engineer: Celu Comfort
Contractor: Sanart
Location: Valmiera, Latvia
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