JLG Architects’ Post

As both a sports infrastructure architect and an athlete, I believe stadiums must transcend their traditional event-only function. The issue of underutilized "white elephant" stadiums is a missed opportunity for community and economic value. Instead, stadiums should be designed as "unicorns"—multi-functional spaces that remain active year-round, integrating community uses like markets, services, and social spaces. In my thesis design of an integrated sports hub, I employed similar strategies and concepts, focusing on creating flexible, community-centric venues. By prioritizing adaptability and local integration, these spaces can deliver long-term social and financial benefits, justifying their higher initial costs. My goal is to design stadiums that are vibrant, inclusive, and valuable to their communities every day of the year. https://lnkd.in/eZ9J5eMG

The stadium is perhaps the most likely type of civic infrastructure to attract public scrutiny. Home to a vast range of experiences, the typology hosts the highs of public life – providing the stage for performances and grounds for sporting matches. Events are formative in every city’s public psyche, so their setting – the stadium – must meet the highest of standards. But what happens when the event is over? Across the world, stadiums are only used for events approximately 10 to 20 percent of the year and are left to languish the other 80 to 90 percent. Expensive and deeply antisocial, these buildings are a lost opportunity for social and financial contribution to their communities, owners and operators. Stadiums should, and can, be useful every day of the week. Knowing this, how can we design stadiums to be better neighbours? Featured on Australian Design Review, Senior Associate Matt Reynolds' latest Insight explores this question. Read the article here: https://bit.ly/3WdHXd2 #peoplearchitecture #woodsbagot #thoughtleadership #stadiums #majorvenues #stadiumdesign

Athletics is an important part of the student experience at most higher ed institutions, whether as a student-athlete or fan. For those of your evaluating stadium renovations/construction, what value is being placed on the luxury quotient expected by both your fans and athletes? Construction Dive and Michael Hessert discuss how stadium design is changing: https://lnkd.in/enmcUi2z

Big news below!

Archinect Year In Review: 2023's best in sports architecture and stadiums

Obama Foundation Launches Programs and Athletic Center Construction Read the full article below..

Urban sports districts add to the vibrancy of cities by generating activity and revenue on more than just game days. At HOK, we are proud to have played a pivotal role in planning and designing St. Louis CITY SC's new stadium and adjacent training facility. The award-winning CITYPARK Stadium creates a connected, vibrant district in downtown St. Louis. What can other cities learn from this urban design? HOK co-CEO Eli Hoisington recently shared 4 lessons from the project with the St. Louis Business Journal. These strategies shaped the design of the stadium district and helped energize the surrounding neighborhood. Here's how: 1. Community Connections: The stadium’s open design maximizes engagement with the city, offering views of iconic landmarks and ensuring all sides are active and accessible. 2. Found Opportunities: Located on a 25-acre site that once consisted of highway interchanges, the $667-million soccer complex has helped spur $1.4 billion in new neighborhood development. 3. Civic Space: Thoughtfully designed public plazas and monuments, like Damon Davis’s “Pillars of the Valley,” honor the neighborhood's history and foster community. 4. Home-Field Advantage: A sunken pitch and steep seating bowl create an energetic atmosphere, with no seat more than 120 feet from the action. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dnA5KuPg #hoksport #mls #stadiumdesign #stlouis

We are walking into a new era of design for sport arenas and stadiums. There's a shift to a more fan focused design, with venues catering to the "fan experience." The "fan experience" speaks to how fans interact and engage within the space outside of sports game itself. A fan focused design tailors the environment to encourage human socialization and a group-watching experience. Larger screens, charging stations (phone and car), and more social spaces will get fans to come early and stay late which increases profits and desirability. People, generally, want to be surrounded by "good vibes", designing for the "fan experience" will keep sports fans and non-sport fans engaged. Check out these new stadium projects under construction in North America that are incorporating a fan focused design, a practice we will utilize for future projects. https://lnkd.in/e-ZwkQ8p

PROJECTS IN ACTION - Mississippi State MVP The iconic Mississippi State basketball arena, affectionately known as “The Hump”, recently completed a comprehensive renovation that included the installation of a new floor by Covington. Humphrey Coliseum located near Starkville, Mississippi has been the home of Mississippi State basketball for over four decades. The renovation project, which spanned over two phases, encompassed a wide range of improvements, both inside and outside the arena. Phase one focused on enhancing the exterior of the arena, including new entrances, updated signage, and improved accessibility features. Phase two, finalized in 2023, centered on transforming the arena’s interior, including the installation of the new floor, and state-of-the-art lighting systems. The new Robbins MVP system installed by Covington, represents a significant leap forward in athletic surface design. Robbin’s most innovative design focuses on optimizing bio-mechanical interaction between the athlete and floor by minimizing vibration and maximizing uniformity. Excellent energy return improves performance, comfort, and safety while Vibration damping reduces muscle fatigue and lessens risk of athlete injury. The renovation of Humphrey Coliseum signifies a major turning point for Mississippi State University and its athletic programs. The revitalized arena now stands as a world-class facility, poised to provide a premier environment for the university’s athletes and fans to experience the thrill of basketball for generations to come. Looking to build a new arena, gym or renovate and existing sports venue, why not call the experts at Covington. Find the Sales professional for your area and call, text or email today to schedule a no-obligation evaluation and budget for your facility planning calendar. #thechoiceofchampions #championschoosecovington

The architectural beauty of sports stadiums through three Populous projects Major sports projects, such as stadiums, can – and should – be more than just beautiful and functional architectural works. Their power to attract numerous people serves as a driving force for urban regeneration and a socio-economic system around them. Examples of this are these three stadiums designed by Populous, a firm specializing in sports architecture.