Populous

When is a baseball game also a trip to a microbrewery, and when is a boutique shopping trip also a baseball game? When you’re designing a ballpark for the future of sport in Asia. https://bit.ly/41UkEGM In the final of our three part series looking at how Asia’s baseball stadiums are inspiring a new generation of players and fans, Associate Principal & Senior Architect Nick Malyon draws on his global experience having worked in both the US and the Asia Pacific, to consider how ballparks are becoming anchors for a broader precinct, where the line seamlessly blends game day excitement with diverse activities, creating vibrant hubs for entertainment and community engagement. Regardless of the location, baseball globally is more than a game – it’s an entertainment experience. Ballparks and the broader precincts around these venues are adapting to meet this experiential diversification for fans and non-fans alike. Read more: https://bit.ly/41UkEGM. #ballparks #baseball #arenas #design #architecture

As we celebrated International Women's Day #IWD recently, Populous’ team in Australia had another reason to be excited – announced as one of the Top 101 Employers for Women in 2025 by WORK180. Our partnership with Work180 has played a key role in driving us forward as a company as we continue to demonstrate our commitment and continued progression in creating a workplace where everyone has equal opportunity, equal representation and equal pay. This growth mindset of always challenging ourselves to continually enhance our culture of inclusivity and equality also translates into our design approach for ground-breaking sports venues, including the purpose-built Home of the Matildas and the new home of the Brisbane Lions Football Club, which provides a benchmark for how equal opportunity facilities in an elite environment are delivered. Populous, along with the other 100 companies who have been awarded the Top 101 recognition were recently highlighted in the Melbourne Herald Sun's #IWD feature. But we know there’s still work to do as we put in place strategies across the APAC region to bridge the gaps we have when it comes to female participation in senior leadership roles. We remain committed to focusing on undertaking unbiased and diverse recruitment, developing future leaders through in-house and external developmental opportunities and mentoring programs, providing inclusive and supportive career pathways and policies, remaining carer inclusive, continuing rigorous and regular gender and peer pay reviews, and providing equal opportunities for everyone to grow and reach their full potential. Images: projects designed by Populous, including the home of the Brisbane Lions Football Club, China National Speed Skating Oval, CommBank Stadium and Accor Stadium.

Populous Senior Principal Tom Jones will speak at the Coliseum Summit Europe on Tuesday, 18th March, at Emirates Stadium. In his presentation, Tom will discuss the challenges and opportunities of redeveloping existing stadiums, with a focus on Wrexham A.F.C.'s new Kop Stand and Fulham FC's Riverside Stand development.

Today, our #throwbackthursday goes all the way back to 2000. Twenty-five years ago, Populous completed Sky Stadium (formerly Westpac Stadium) in Wellington - the world's first modern purpose-built cricket ground, which was also the home of New Zealand's other main sporting code, rugby. Since then, we've managed various upgrades to the venue, including adding a new bar and function space on the mezzanine level with views to the harbour, and concourse and F&B upgrades, including new wayfinding. 🎂 Happy birthday Sky Stadium. 25 years this month. https://bit.ly/3XoJkFN

CommBank Stadium's modular design is helping build a roadmap for the circular economy in major venue design and construction. https://bit.ly/43hdmiJ Populous has committed to delivering net-zero buildings by 2030. Through our participation in the Building 4.0 CRC, an industry-led research initiative co-funded by the Australian Government, we are sharing lessons learned on CommBank Stadium, which was a case study in the Scoping Study for Building the Future – Circular Economy project. The stadium design serves as a model for future circular civic infrastructure projects. Modular design using standardised components designed with the intent of deconstruction is helping to set a blueprint for creating a circular economy within the Australian construction industry. Find out more: https://bit.ly/43hdmiJ. Venues NSW, Infrastructure NSW, ProjectsNSW, Lendlease, Aurecon, ASPECT Studios, BlueScope #circulareconomy #stadiumdesign

A stadium's façade is more than a shell to keep the elements out and the atmosphere in, it can help shape a building's identity, becoming part of the fabric of the surrounding environment, says Populous' Senior Principal & Senior Architect James Pearce. James was one of the lead architects who designed the recently opened Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong with its “Pearl of the Orient” themed façade made up of 27,000 aluminum panels that create a shimmering pearlescent form that changes color with the natural light, shifting from cobalt blue to metallic purple and silver throughout the day. Viewed from the bay, it adds an instantly recognizable new landmark to Hong Kong’s famous waterfront skyline. James discussed the Creation of Identity in Sports & Entertainment Venue Façades at the recent Zak World of Façades Conference in Auckland, New Zealand, using Kai Tak Stadium as one of several examples of how the use of materiality can create a sense of place. The multi-city event invites design experts to share industry trends and insights. Find out more about Kai Tak Stadium's façade https://bit.ly/4boyF3I. #facade Kai Tak Sports Park

Hey there! Where will you be on International Women’s Day? If you’re in Austin, Texas, join us at Midwest House for Raise Hell & Raise the Game: Investing in Women’s Pro Sports Through Advocacy & Representation. This panel brings together trailblazing investors and leaders who have overcome challenges and seen the rewards of championing women’s sports. Featured panelists include: - Sophia Bush, general partner at Union Heritage - Nia Batts, managing director and COO at Union Heritage - Karina, LeBlanc, C.M., executive vice president of strategic growth development at RAJ Sports - Fran Harris, foundher of Electra and The Athletic Club - Sherri Privitera, senior principal and director of women’s professional sports at Populous Hope to see you there! Register here: https://lu.ma/50f6c1f5

Women’s sports aren’t just changing on the pitch — they’re transforming from the ground up, partly thanks to the women designing the stadiums, training centres and fan experiences that define them.   As we celebrate #InternationalWomensDay this weekend, we are shining a light on some of our Populous teammates who are leading inclusive venue and facility design in sports and entertainment. Senior Principal and EMEA Design Quality Lead Maria Knutsson-Hall, Associate Principal Ari Lorenzana and Principal Debbie Power spoke to Glorious Sport about how they’re redefining the experience for female athletes and diverse audiences in a way that shapes the future of venues worldwide.   Read more:  https://lnkd.in/eRN9Tts5

From record-breaking athletes to record-breaking attendance and viewership, we’ve seen firsthand the power of women in sports. Yesterday, we heard from some of the powerhouse women working behind the scenes to drive the momentum of women’s sports forward through architecture, mentorship and media. A huge thank you to Avi Greene, Populous Senior Associate and Architect, for moderating the conversation. We’re also so grateful to our incredible panelists: Morgan Crawford, Founder of the Moxie League, a basketball community for women and girls built on mentorship and connection; Caroline Fitzgerald, Founder of GOALS, a start-up consultancy and media platform fully dedicated to growing the business side of women's sports; and Sherri Privitera, Populous Senior Principal and Americas Regional Board member. It was inspiring to learn from the leaders breaking barriers and pushing the game to the next level. Avignon Greene, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP | Sherri Privitera | Morgan Crawford, MBA | Caroline Fitzgerald

Thank you to the many talented students who visited Populous at the National University of Singapore's Careers & Internships Fair 2025 where Principal & Senior Architect Nic Yang, Associate Principal and Senior Architectural Designer Zakiah Supahat Züge and Associate and Architectural Designer Michal Bednar gave an insight into what it's like to work on some of the world's most impactful stadiums, arenas, convention and exhibition facilities, and airports. The NUS students "walked through" Populous' sports, entertainment and aviation projects using our immersive virtual reality tools, giving them a sense of what it's like to be inside the projects we are currently designing. It was fantastic to see so much interest in the design industry. Our future is in good hands. A special shout out to Zak for delivering the student lecture.