Bill Johnson
Design Principal, Sports + Recreation, Entertainment | HOK
Momentum continues at a rapid pace for the venues industry and those working behind the scenes in design and development.
“It’s been a whirlwind year in terms of both project successes and firm growth,” says Bill Johnson of HOK, a sports architect with 40 years of experience.
He notes the groundbreaking of Scotia Place, the new home of the Calgary Flames, as a personal highlight. “We also continue to grow HOK’s presence in Denver, where I’m now based. We’ve brought on passionate, talented staff and continue to grow our work in the Mountain West region — including on projects like the Denver Broncos new training facility.”
He says the trend of major renovations and repurposing of venues is a positive one.
“I’m excited about the renewed desire to save, repurpose and reimagine older venues, similar to what we did at Hard Rock Stadium, Footprint Center and State Farm Arena, and what we’re currently doing in the NFL in Jacksonville and Charlotte,” said Johnson. “These large-scale interventions are architecturally challenging, but are exponentially more sustainable and provide a more cost-effective solution that pays dividends for the city and fan base. There are also innate opportunities for creativity embedded in a renovation project; we’re able to test new concepts in the market.”
The collegiate world is in flux, he says, which he says is an interesting challenge to navigate currently.
“NIL has had a dramatic impact on collegiate athletic departments and, in turn, is impacting funding, timeline and the priority given to renovating or building new college sports facilities,” he said. “Universities need to be focused on which projects can generate the greatest return and the most revenue the quickest. Fortunately, this often means prioritizing projects that dramatically improve the fan experience. It’ll be interesting to see in the coming year how NIL continues to inform facility projects.”
Looking forward to Scotia Place’s opening, he says premium continues to evolve in a positive fashion, with initial investment paying off for developers.
“The traditional suite might be less relevant,” he said. “We have to think beyond the first few seasons in a building and plan for how the building will age, adapt and expand 10 or 20 years down the road to meeting evolving fan expectations and new technologies.”
Similarly, he says sustainability is of paramount importance rather than a lofty goal.
“Architects play a critical role, and a sensitive, ultra-green approach to these large-scale projects can make a significant difference for a community,” he said. “In places like Jacksonville with the Jaguars’ ‘Stadium of the Future,’ these sustainable strategies also serve to improve the fan experience and fan comfort.” ” — Ryan Borba
