Populous

In 2032, Brisbane, Australia will become the youngest city ever to host an Olympic and Paralympic Games. As much as the global event and the major venues that host it are about entertaining excited fans during that time, they’re also about facilitating a lasting connection between people and place. The IAQ (Infrastructure Association of Queensland Inc) invited government and industry to collaborate on a vision to better understand what an Olympics legacy really means for Brisbane and Queensland following the 2032 Games. Facilitated by Populous and Arup, the first of IAQ's Legacy Roundtable Series looked at the key planning decisions that need to be made to ensure the best outcomes for the State. These sessions will help share knowledge and ideas as we get closer to the Games, and will inform conversation among key Olympics stakeholders.

The WNBA season has officially begun and fans are more than ready. The league continues to draw record breaking attendance and recently inked the highest media deal in its history. The new Portland expansion team isn’t court ready just yet, but they are well on their way. Populous was at the groundbreaking for the first-of-its-kind dual training facility for the NWSL Portland Thorns FC and the latest addition to the WNBA. This project will continue the momentum of women’s professional sports as more and more dedicated facilities are conceived and built. Our thanks to Lisa Bhathal Merage, Karina, LeBlanc, C.M. and the Portland Thorns for their vision. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gj9KX-6e WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) | National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)

The recently opened Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong has become a global showcase of how a sports and entertainment project can enhance local communities, increase international visitors and stimulate investment. As all eyes turn to Brisbane in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games, Populous Senior Principal and APAC Managing Director Richard Breslin welcomed the Honorable Ros Bates MP RN, Queensland's Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training to the 28 hectare site to see first-hand how this transformative project has revitalised an under-utilised area into a vibrant sports and community hub for the city’s 7.5 million residents. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3XiWbKb.

Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, Head Coach Mike Vrabel and starting quarterback Drake Maye attend the topping off ceremony at the new Patriots Training Center at Gillette Stadium last week. Read more: bit.ly/43m1I4j

Having designed the incredible Co-op Live Arena and helped take live music to a new level in the UK, we loved working on this stunning new recording studio and brand space within that venue. With Populous companies Jump Studios designing the adidas brand experience space, and Experience Studios with the brief development for the acoustic design of the recording space, the future is bright for grass-roots music talent in Manchester and beyond thanks to adidas and Co-op Live

Congratulations to our designers and projects on their success at the 2025 International Architecture & Design Awards, highlighting the very best in contemporary architecture and design. 🥇 The Venetian Arena: Winner - Theater, Concert Hall & Performing Arts Spaces 🥇 Kai Tak Sports Park: Winner - Sports, Recreation & Wellness Facilities 🥇 Kansai International Airport: Winner - Airport, Train Station & Terminal Design 🥉 Sydney Swans HQ: Bronze Award - Renovation, Restoration & Adaptive Reuse Organised by the Architecture & Design Community (ADC), projects were selected from 300 shortlisted entries from over 45 countries. ADC is a worldwide network of architects and designers working towards a shared vision of balancing human needs with environmental responsibility. Find out more about our award-winning projects: The Venetian Arena, Macao SAR https://bit.ly/4k0kIg9 Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong SAR https://bit.ly/3XiWbKb Kansai International Airport, Japan https://bit.ly/43xbHFk Sydney Swans HQ, Australia https://bit.ly/3YAwfKW

The Populous-designed MUNICH ARENA in Freising is set to create a milestone in the presentation of concerts, live entertainment and spectacular events. The state-of-the-art, multifunctional venue, close to Munich International Airport, is designed for first-class live events and will offer around 20,000 spectators an extraordinary event experience in a unique setting. “We are extremely proud to be working on the Munich Arena project, combining the local approach of our team in Germany with the resources and expertise in Arena design from our teams around the world. Our aim has been to create a unique venue that will be an iconic destination for live events and experiences in Bavaria and beyond.” - Declan Sharkey, Senior Principal and Global Director https://bit.ly/4mkuPOc

The bat signal was lit over Brisbane and Senior Principal, Global Director & Co-Founder Paul Henry flew across the city from Populous' APAC head studio to the Toward the Games: Brisbane 2032 Podcast joining Chris Jones and David Lutteral for an expert discussion on what makes a great Olympic venue and how these venues can have a lasting legacy for a city. Paul took over the interviewee baton from previous guests GIICA Chair Stephen Conry AM, President of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee Dr Andrew Liveris AO, Olympic middle-distance legend Lord Sebastian Coe, and Ric Birch who has led the planning of some of the most memorable Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Having served as Project Principal for the development of world-renowned sports and entertainment buildings such as the design of the Sydney Olympic Stadium, London Olympic Stadium, Suncorp Stadium, Narendra Modi Stadium, Hong Kong’s new Kai Tak Sports Park, the Beijing Winter Olympic Arena and the Nanjing Stadium and Arena for the Youth Olympics, Paul is an internationally recognised expert in stadia and arena design and the planning of Olympic an Paralympic Games. 🎤 The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts https://lnkd.in/g99-XFKB.

Sustainability is a key performance metric for any major event. Sporting bodies, clubs, players and fans are not surprisingly seeing the community, health and commercial benefits of more energy efficient venues. Populous' Senior Principal and Director, APAC Al Baxter joined the Australian Sports Commission's Sue McGill and Sports Environment Alliance (SEA) Margot Foster AM OLY at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the 2025 SEA Summit to discuss Australia's national approach to sports infrastructure and engagement. Rethinking sports infrastructure design, the panel, moderated by SEA's CEO Adam Cheyne, looked at how venues can enhance the fan experience and attract greater community participation by taking a more sustainable focus. Read more about the Big 5 in 2025: Sustainable Design Ideas Reshaping Venues at https://bit.ly/4k5iGLq. Photos: Paul Benjamin Photography

Located on the shores of the Gulf in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, Aramco Stadium is set to become one of the world's most iconic sports venues. Drawing inspiration from its setting, the dynamic and visually striking stadium exterior expresses the graceful rotation of waves and the spiral motifs commonly found in nature. The overlapping translucent sails of the façade, delicately curved and proportioned to create a flowing sequence that allows natural light to penetrate the stadium’s interior. The 47,000 seat venue will meet international standards and best practices for the world's premier football competitions, enabling it to host matches in the 2034 World Cup and upcoming 2027 AFC Asian Cup. With the build of the stadium well underway, it has been selected as a Finalist in the Architizer A+Awards for the Unbuilt Sports and Recreation category. Register to vote for Aramco Stadium to win the Popular Choice vote here: https://lnkd.in/eKhugWXp