Populous Expands Global Footprint to Texas

Respected Designers to Join Firm to Lead Populous’ Efforts in the Dallas Market

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 – Populous, a global architecture and design firm, today announced the expansion of its American footprint into the Texas market. The firm’s Dallas office will be led by noted designers Byron Chambers and Jonathan Kelley. This new office will focus on a wide range of project types and services including sports and entertainment venues, convention centers, aviation experience architecture, hospitality architecture and interior design. The expansion is Populous’ fifth in the United States in recent years and supports Populous’ growth trajectory in the Americas.

“Having a physical presence in the Texas market has been on our radar for many years; it is indicative of our desire to continually adapt to changing market needs,” said Populous Americas Managing Director and Senior Principal Earl Santee, FAIA. “The stars aligned for us in finding Byron and Jonathan and with their leadership, we will now have a nucleus of talented designers who all unite under the same desire to create the places where people love to be together.”

Chambers and Kelley, along with their team in Dallas, will be integral in connecting Populous to opportunities throughout the Southern United States as well as Latin and South America.

“What attracted us to Populous, in addition to its massive brand recognition and design expertise, was our alignment with Populous’ cultural values around client service,” said Kelley. “We have always admired Populous’ focus on relationships, ideas and design, and we look forward to expanding those standards within the footprint of the South.”

Chambers and Kelley will lead a Dallas staff of 8, with the plans for Populous to continue to grow its presence much as it has done with other upstart markets across the Americas.

“Very few firms have the reputation Populous does,” said Chambers. “As designers, we will accept the challenge of creating the places that connect our communities; iconic buildings where lifetime memories are made.”

Chambers brings 16 years of experience to Populous and is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental design and a master’s degree in architecture. Kelley has 24 years of experience in sports architecture and has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Iowa State University. At previous firms, Chambers and Kelley have worked on such award-winning projects as the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick spring training ballpark for the Diamondbacks and Rockies. Their clients also include many universities including Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Texas Christian University.

Widely known for its sports portfolio, Populous also has become a national leader in esports and convention center design and has added capabilities in aviation, campus planning and landscape architecture along with hospitality design and brand activation services. The firm has also established itself as a world leader in event design, having planned 13 Olympic Games, 18 MLB All-Star Games and the last 35 NFL Super Bowls.

Populous has completed 55 sports and convention center projects in Texas, including such well known landmarks as McLane Stadium at Baylor University; the renovation to Kyle Field at Texas A&M; BBVA Compass Stadium, Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center and NRG Stadium in Houston; Southwest University Park in El Paso; Crusader Stadium at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor; and the recent Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center expansion in San Antonio. Populous is currently designing North America’s largest esports venue in Arlington and is working with Texas Tech University and the University of Texas at San Antonio. Populous has an international architecture portfolio that includes Estadio BBVA Bancomer in Monterrey, Mexico; Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil; Aviva Stadium in Dublin; the London 2012 Olympic Stadium; and the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center.

The opening of the Dallas office continues Populous’ expansion plan over the past 3 years, which includes new offices in New York, Boston, Pittsburgh and San Francisco. With the addition of Dallas, the firm now employs 380 in eight offices across the Americas. At a global level, the firm employs more than 600 in 17 offices.

“Today’s announcement strengthens our firm with access to talent; access to our clients; and access to emerging markets across Latin and South America,” said Santee. “We will continue to tie together our design talent as a unified practice under the brilliant blue skies of Texas and we look forward to increasing our presence across the South for generations to come.”

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For More Information, Contact:

Gina Stingley
Populous
816-329-4409
[email protected]