By ERIC BERGER
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle

Like nearby Enron Field, the proposed arena would offer views of the Houston skyline through multistory windows and face the heart of downtown.

With a wide entrance plaza and restaurants overlooking LaBranch and Polk streets, arena proponents say visitors would have ample room to congregate and mingle.

"Since this is a multipurpose facility, we wanted to make the look flexible and inviting to all users, conventioneers, sports fans, concert goers and the downtown community," said George Postolos, the Houston Rockets' chief operating officer.

The preliminary arena designs -- by Chris Carver, of Kansas City, Mo.-based architects Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum -- will be unveiled this afternoon.

It's clear that the firm that designed Enron Field and is doing work at the new football stadium is drawing on its other Houston projects for inspiration.

In addition to windows overlooking downtown, the arena appears to incorporate similar aspects of limestone and brick that will complement the ballpark's exterior, which is seven blocks to the north.

Postolos was so struck by Enron Field's style that he spent about two hours during the inaugural game there speaking with the ballpark's principal architect, Earl Santee, also of HOK.

The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, which provided most of the funding for Enron Field and would do the same for the arena if voters approve a ballot item this fall, want the arena to build upon Enron Field's perceived successes.

"Our goal is a fan-friendly venue, which Enron Field has proved to be," said Wayne Smith, chairman of the sports authority's construction committee. "People everywhere in the venue should feel involved."

Like other new arenas for basketball and hockey teams, the proposed facility would feature wide concourses and upscale restaurants. And plans call for two levels of private suites, a staple of new arenas that makes them valuable to the owners of their professional sports tenants.

Other proposed features:

· About 60 percent of the 18,500-seating capacity is in the lower bowl just off of the main concourse, compared with less than half at Compaq Center, where the Rockets currently play.

· Substantially more restroom facilities than the Compaq Center, to shorten waiting lines.

· State-of-the-art sound system for concerts, scoreboards and information systems that will allow for a showy presentation. It's like going from a transistor radio to a hi-fi stereo, said one team official.

· A street-level entrance where pedestrians could access some of the businesses venues. Much of the building would be open year-round.

Smith said $10 million to $12 million of the arena's $175 million design and construction budget would be spent on architectural work. While HOK has done much of the concept work, nearly 70 percent of the architectural design would be done by local firms, led by Morris Architects.

Some sports authority members preferred another national firm, Ellerbe Beckett, also based in Kansas City, which has worked on eight arenas for National Basketball Association teams. But that firm was busy with arena projects in San Antonio and Charlotte, N.C.

HOK has worked on five NBA arenas, including three that opened last year -- Philips Arena in Atlanta, Pepsi Center in Denver and Air Canada Center in Toronto -- but has no projects currently on its plate.

That leaves the firm's "A-team" available for this project, team officials have reasoned.

More of HOK's pictures and a video of the arena's design will be available at www.arenavote2000.com later today.

Last year voters rejected an arena proposal by 10 percentage points. Since then, the Rockets and sports authority have renegotiated the deal to finance the arena and have placed the issue on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.