New designs and major renovations of college stadiums and arenas are taking inspiration from the pros in seating arrangements and amenities.
“Our research shows that fans want a new game-day experience,” says Sherri Privitera, NCARB, LEED AP, Principal with Populous. “It’s no longer as simple as providing fans a seat, a hot dog, and a soda.”
Game attendance at some major universities has declined in recent years. Stadium renovations are a big part of the strategy to win fans back.
Luxury boxes, club seating, and a wider variety of food and drink options are musts. When Baylor University fans expressed interest in making it easier to bring children to football games, the school added a stroller check, new family-friendly restrooms with diaper-changing counters, and stools to make it easier for toddlers to access sinks, says Privitera.
Training facilities are also getting nutrition stations, meeting rooms replete with the latest technology, and cushy lounges, all aimed at providing what athletes need to reduce their need to travel around campus. “Players are there for a certain number of hours, and efficient use of their time is so important,” says Fred Ortiz, AIA, Principal and Director of East Coast Sports & Entertainment with HKS.
ALSO SEE: BD+C Giants 300 sports rankings
Top 40 sports architecture firms
Top 20 sports engineering firms
Top 50 sports construction firms
Training facilities are dedicating space to academic study and tutoring. “It’s very much like planning an office project,” says Ortiz. Features include movable partitions and seating, projection screens, flexible-height computer screens, and extensive daylighting.
All these efforts are designed to wow prospective student-athletes, Ortiz says. In most cases, the university does not subsidize these improvements, Privitera says. Instead, bonds backed by alumni donations and revenue from ticket sales and premium amenities foot the bill.
SEE ALL 2017 GIANTS 300 RANKINGS
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Aug 3, 2019
Top 80 Construction Management + Project Management Firms for 2019
Jacobs, CBRE, JLL, Hill Intl., and Whiting-Turner top the rankings of the nation's largest construction management (as agent) and program/project management firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 2, 2019
Top 160 Contractors for 2019
Turner, Jacobs, Whiting-Turner, AECOM, and DPR head the rankings of the nation's largest general contractors, CM at risk firms, and design-builders for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 2, 2019
Top 40 Engineering Architecture Firms for 2019
AECOM, Jacobs, Burns & McDonnell, Thornton Tomasetti, and NV5 top the rankings of the nation's largest engineering architecture (EA) firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 2, 2019
Top 80 Engineering Firms for 2019
WSP, Kimley-Horn, Terracon, Arup, and Jensen Hughes top the rankings of the nation's largest engineering firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 1, 2019
2019 Engineering Giants Report: Firms add in-demand services
Top business innovations from the nation's largest engineering and engineering architecture (EA) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Jul 31, 2019
Top 100 Architecture Engineering Firms for 2019
Stantec, HDR, HOK, SOM, and CallisonRTKL head the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Jul 30, 2019
2019 Architecture Giants Report: The year that was at 94 design firms
A roundup of trends, innovations, new hires, and big wins from 94 of the nation's largest architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
![Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019 [Giants 300 Report]](/sites/default/files/styles/list_big/public/Microsoft%20London%20headquarters%2C%20by%20Gensler%2C%20photo-%20Gareth%20Gardner%20.jpg?itok=CL3WnzuY "Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019 [Giants 300 Report]")
Giants 400 | Jul 30, 2019
Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
Gensler, Perkins+Will, HKS, and Perkins Eastman top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Jul 2, 2019
2019 GIANTS 300 REPORT: Innovations and trends at the nation’s largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
More than 485 U.S.-based architecture, engineering, and construction firms participated in the 2019 Giants 300 report. Check out the rankings below.
Giants 400 | Jun 26, 2019
How are the AEC Giants faring in the tech arms race?
About half (42%) say their firm is “on par” with their most-direct AEC competitors.
