First Look: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.

One of the biggest arenas in North America has made progress in its movement toward a makeover. On Saturday, a Lexington planning commission approved the preliminary plans of a redesign for the 35-year-old Rupp, replacing the building's concrete walls with a fusion of treated glass and steel.

Architecture firm SpaceGroup from Olso, Norway came up with the Lexington Center redesign, which will now go to the financing committee to identify funding.

Ariel view renderings for the Lexi...