HOK president Hellmuth: “Great to be back in sports”
Bill Hellmuth, president of global architecture practice HOK is “excited” by the firm’s recent re-entry into the sports sector.
Speaking to Sports Management, Hellmuth said the acquisition of sports specialist 360 Architecture, which will form part of a new global practice called HOK Sports + Recreation + Entertainment, has “filled a void” in HOK’s operations.
“It’s great to be back in sports,” he said. “It’s a piece of our practice that we’ve sorely missed for the last six years.”
HOK’s previous sports arm – HOK Sport Venue Event – became Populous in 2008 following a management buy out. A non-compete agreement, which formed part of the deal, meant HOK hasn’t worked in sports architecture for more than five years.
Founded in 2004, 360 Architecture is recognised as one of the world’s leading designers of stadiums, arenas and wellness centres, employing 200 staff. The company’s previous work includes the MetLife Stadium in New York and the Basra Sports City project in Iraq.
Hellmuth said the integration of 360 into HOK will impact all of HOK’s future work around large projects.
“We do an awful lot of work with developers and a lot of masterplanning of communities,” he added.
“To be able to work hand in glove with the sports component is just an incredible benefit to working on overall masterplans – especially in Asia and the Middle East where there are very large and complex masterplans of communities.
“Having the sports component woven in from the very beginning is a real benefit. In the past, people doing these masterplans would get to the sports part and we’d have to say that 'we don’t do that'. That is no longer the case and it makes our offering to clients so much richer and better.”
Brad Schrock, principal at 360 Architecture, will be among the staff to join the new Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice. He is poised to become its director.
Speaking to Sports Management, Schrock said the new sports practice’s philosophy will mirror the scale of opportunities offered by being part of a global masterplanning giant such as HOK.
“Sports facilities are so much more than just sports facilities nowadays,” Schrock said.
“The days of having a traditional sports architect execute a stadium are pretty much over. Our philosophy is that we’ve got an incredible group of professionals and experts around the world that practice in a number of markets that come to bear on all of our sports projects.
“Joining HOK enables us to take advantage of an exceptionally strong global platform and to expand our sports facility design practice, while offering our clients additional expertise in other markets.”
Along with Schrock, 360 Architecture's senior principals set to join HOK include Tom Waggoner, George Heinlein, William Johnson, Tracy Stearns and Chris Trainer.
HOK’s re-entry into the sports market in 2015 coincides with the celebration of the company's 60th anniversary.
HOK returns to sports design - completes deal for 360 Architecture
HOK agrees deal to purchase design firm 360 Architecture
BIG unveils Eve Music Hall as Croatia venue nears completion
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
Mandarin Oriental announces standalone Mansions-branded residences for Abu Dhabi
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by
Zannier Île De Bendor launches with design by Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
Sæl Spa readies for launch in London: “a modern British sanctuary”
Immersive art bathhouse Submersive announces debut location in Austin
Construction begins on regenerative wellness destination The Shenandoah Nature Resort
Royal Caribbean reveals record-breaking cruise ship
V&A East opens in London
David Geffen galleries open at LACMA
New venue The Lands by Capella includes a longevity centre to complement sister hotel Capella Sydney
World of Frozen launches at Disneyland Paris
Pical Resort by Valamar reveals first Croatian spa under the ESPA brand
Mandarin Oriental creates end-to-end Egyptian journey with two new hotels and first-ever luxury river cruise
Designers Mendil + Meyer launch new division called Lām Concepts for strategic wellness projects
Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda reveals brand’s second Sanctuary spa
4a Architekten shares details of wellness extension at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
