Company development
In 1983, HOK under Jerry Sincoff created a sports group (initially called the Sports Facilities Group and later changed to HOK Sport Venue Event). The firm initially consisted of eight architects in Kansas City, and grew to employ 185 people by 1996.[7] The HOK Sport studio was led by architect Ron Labinski, who has been described as "the world's first sports venue architect."[8][9]
On several projects, HOK Sport had teamed with international design practice LOBB Partnership, which maintained offices in London, England, and Brisbane, Australia. On HOK Sport's 15th anniversary in November 1998, the firm merged with LOBB. The new practice retained headquarters in all three cities.
The Kansas City, Missouri, office was first based in the city's Garment District in the Lucas Place office building.[10] In 2005, it moved into its headquarters at 300 Wyandotte in the River Market neighborhood in a new building it designed, on land developed as an urban renewal project through tax incentives from the city's Planned Industrial Expansion Authority. It was the first major company to relocate to the neighborhood in several decades.[11]
In March 2009, HOK Sport Venue Event changed its name to Populous after a management buyout from HOK Group.[10]
Populous completed the design and oversaw the construction of the 2012 Olympic Stadium in London.
In October 2015, Populous relocated to its new Americas headquarters at the newly renovated Board of Trade building at 4800 Main street near the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City.[12] In August 2024, the Kansas City Business Journal reported that Populous was moving its Americas headquarters back downtown into the new 1400KC building in the Power and Light District.[13]
The company is one of several Kansas City-based sports design firms that trace their roots to Kivett and Myers which designed the Truman Sports Complex which was one of the first modern large single purpose sports stadiums (previously, stadiums were designed for multipurpose use). Other firms with sports design presence in Kansas City that trace their roots to Kivett include Ellerbe Becket Inc. and HNTB Corp. 360 Architecture is also based in Kansas City.[14]
In 2019, the Populous-designed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium opened in London, featuring a retractable pitch to accommodate both football and NFL games.[15]
In 2022, Populous was named Fast Company's Most Innovative Company in Architecture, largely due to its work on Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.[16][17]
The firm also worked with Foster + Partners; firstly on the redesign of Wembley Stadium in 2007, then (with Arup as the Stadium engineers), as the designated sports architect responsible for the design of the seating bowl and associated facilities at Lusail Stadium, the largest venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In September 2023, the Las Vegas Sphere designed by Populous officially opened with a residency by U2.[18] It is the most expensive entertainment venue built in the Las Vegas Valley and the world's largest spherical structure.
In 2023 Populous announced a strategic minority investment from Providence Equity Partners.[19]
In 2025, Populous acquired Fentress Architects, a global design firm specialising in aviation, civil and cultural projects.[20]
Populous has a significant design presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. 11 of the 14 stadiums in the Saudi 2034 World Cup bid are either designed or redeveloped by the practice.
