Join our team at the upcoming Convention, Sports & Entertainment Facilities 2026 Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

Principal and Sports Design Leader Ryan Freeland, AIA, and Principal and Architecture Leader Allen Schmidt, AIA, LEED AP, will present a session titled “Facilities Matter: Leading Collegiate Stadium Renovation in a New Era.” They will be joined by Joseph Swingle, executive athletics director and chief infrastructure officer at the University of Missouri, Nick Britton, construction project manager at the University of Missouri, Joe Swanson, vice president at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Justin Zeh, vice president of field operations at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, and Joel McPhee, project manager at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company.

Together, the panel will share insights from the transformative renovation of the University of Missouri’s Memorial Stadium Centennial Project, exploring how strategic facility investments elevate the student-athlete and fan experience, strengthen donor engagement, and support long-term institutional growth.

Using Memorial Stadium as a case study, the speakers will highlight innovative design solutions, premium hospitality environments, phased construction strategies, and modernization approaches that are helping universities reimagine historic athletic venues for a new era of collegiate athletics. Attendees will also gain valuable insight into the collaboration between owner, designer, and builder required to deliver complex stadium renovations while maintaining active campus operations and achieving ambitious program goals.

Their session will be held on the last day of the conference, Thursday, September 10 from 10:15 – 11:15 AM.