Jaguars ‘Stadium of the Future’ ode to Nature

Image: Jacksonville Jaguars

The National Football League (NFL) team Jacksonville Jaguars introduced on June 7^th conceptual designs for the ‘Stadium of the Future’, a design project nearly three years in the making intended to inspire a transformation of Downtown Jacksonville in Florida (US) and secure NFL football in Northeast Florida well into the future.

‘Jacksonville Jaguars’ stated that the video visualization and renderings were unveiled on 1stdowntownjacksonville.com and across Jaguars’ social media channels.

Image: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, US. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference South Division. The team plays its home games at the TIAA Bank Field.

The 67,838-capacity TIAA Bank Field is an American football stadium located in Jacksonville, Florida, US, that primarily serves as the home facility of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL).

New York (US)-based the National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference.

Image: Jacksonville Jaguars

‘Jacksonville Jaguars’ quoted Jaguars team owner Shad Khan as stating, “We have reached the end of this important and initial phase of this project, the design of the stadium we envision will be the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars and serve our entire community for generations to come. From stadium discussions starting in 2016 to the formal process launched in July 2020 and now concluding, our objective has always been the same – lock in a promising future for the Jaguars and help our downtown become an economic engine to lift all of Jacksonville, particularly areas that have been underserved. Being able to share the video and stadium design highlights with the people of Jacksonville is a significant step forward in that effort.”

Added Khan, “This is also all happening at a fantastic time for everyone. Jacksonville is red hot. Just check out all of the recent rankings – best places to live, best housing market, hottest job market, best place to start a business, Jacksonville ranks within the top five in all of those lists. Add the fact the Jaguars are coming off a playoff season, and positioned for even better days ahead, and it all points to better and hopefully our best days just ahead in Jacksonville.”

The Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville officials began work toward a long-term stadium solution in July 2020 with a thorough engineering assessment of the current stadium, the TIAA Bank Field. The assessment concluded it was possible to solve stadium challenges via a renovation of the City-owned facility versus new construction.

Image: Jacksonville Jaguars

In-depth surveys of fans and other key stakeholders followed along with a comprehensive selection process for a design partner. After its selection as architect for the project team, HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice then collaborated with the Jaguars on turning concepts into more definitive renovation plans.

New York (US)-based HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm. Its 1,600 people collaborate across a network of 26 offices on three continents. HOK is a collective of future-forward thinkers and designers who are driven to face the critical challenges of time.

HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment specialists create experiences that cultivate this feeling. They design venues from the fan’s perspective, creating gathering places that build excitement, facilitate connections and leave them wanting more.

Put in Peter Broeder, HOK’s Design Principal, “This transformation transcends the stadium’s boundaries. The design creates an iconic, accessible community nexus that ties together the surrounding neighborhoods and riverfront. The venue will celebrate Jacksonville’s natural landscape and climate, offering a park-like ambiance enriched by the latest amenities, engaging social spaces and state-of- the-art technology. This unprecedented project will position Jacksonville as a premier destination for top-tier sports and entertainment events for decades to come.”

In addition to HOK, the project team includes Impact Development Management as the owner’s representative, with AECOM Hunt and Barton Malow serving in the role of Preconstruction Manager.

Image: Jacksonville Jaguars

The mission of Impact Development Management is to positively impact people and communities through commercial development projects. The expertise of the Atlanta (US)-based project management group is sought after across the country for delivering a high-level of service, no matter the size, scope or location of a project.

An owner’s representative is hired by a project owner to represent him or her throughout the entire process of a development, including site selection, design, entitlements, permitting, and construction. The owner’s representative serves as a liaison and ensures that the owner’s best interests are carried out.

Founded in 1944 in Indianapolis, Indiana (US), AECOM Hunt has been building for its clients for over 75 years. From iconic stadiums and arenas, next-generation transportation hubs and sustainable healthcare and academic buildings, AECOM Hunt is known all over the United States as the premier builder of large and complex projects. Its expertise, leadership and dedication are unparalleled.

For nearly a century, Southfield, Michigan (US)-based Barton Malow has been committed to Building with the American Spirit: People, Projects and Communities. The Barton Malow Family of Companies comprises four entities and five partner firms across North America. With more than 3,000 team members and 16 offices, its 100 percent employee-owned enterprise is on a mission to transform the construction industry through innovation and increased efficiencies in the building process.

The ‘Stadium of the Future’ design meets the evolving needs of all stadium stakeholders, which include the Jaguars, the annual Florida-Georgia college football game, the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl, international sporting events, major music festivals/tours, and the thousands of fans and guests in attendance at each event.

The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game held in Jacksonville, Florida (US), operated by Gator Bowl Sports (a company based out of Jacksonville). It has been held continuously since 1946, making it the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally. It is held at the TIAA Bank Field.
 

The design highlights include:

• Drawing inspiration from Jacksonville’s lush landscapes – a network of biking and walking trails, parklands, greenways, beaches and marshes – the striking design captures the essence of Florida. Fans will enter through a subtropical Floridian park, leading them to the main concourse. The concourse will be elevated 30 feet above the ground, offering expansive views for Downtown Jacksonville and the St. Johns River (river in Florida);
• The 360-degree concourse, four times wider than before, will feature interactive social bars and a variety of unique experiences alongside culinary delights native to Jacksonville. Every fan will discover something unique during each visit to the venue, which will offer a wide range of premium offerings and communal spaces;
• The seating bowl flexibility will provide for a base capacity of 62,000 with expansion capabilities up to 71,500 for a college football game and more for a concert. The venue will be able to transform its appearance through lighting and digital technology that will create distinctive gameday experiences while ensuring that the fans stay connected;
• The stadium has been designed with sustainability in mind. With a first-of-its-kind mirrored material, the energy-efficient façade will reflect Jacksonville’s waterfront, vegetation and distinct spirit. The open-air venue will feature a large shade canopy that will reduce heat retention by more than 70 percent, lower temperatures 10 to 15 degrees and protect fans from the weather. The façade will be raised at the Northern and Southern ends to optimize airflow, enabling passive cooling throughout the stadium;
• The stadium will feature lookout decks that offer Citywide views. A fritted roof membrane will introduce dispersed ambient light throughout the stadium interior;
• The new stadium design addresses key fan requests, including a 185-percent increase in the main concourse surface area, a 260-percent increase in the upper concourse surface area, 360-degree connectivity in the upper concourse, 13 new elevators and 32 new escalators to support vertical movement, 220 new food and beverage points of sale, and 14 new restrooms; and
• Construction will generate thousands of jobs and, once complete, the stadium will become a source of immense civic pride and a coveted destination for residents and visitors alike to Jacksonville, which was rated by LendingTree earlier this year as No. 5 among America’s Biggest Boomtowns – and No. 1 among the NFL markets.

 
The LendingTree is an online lending marketplace headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, US. The business platform allows potential borrowers to connect with multiple loan operators to find optimal terms for loans, credit cards, deposit accounts, insurance, etc.

Maintained Mark Lamping, Jaguars President, “We fully anticipate a reimagined sports complex with the renovated stadium as its centerpiece will spark development in the East end of Downtown Jacksonville similar to the renaissance of the Brooklyn neighborhood to the West. Combining the power of development to both the West and East of Downtown Jacksonville should create even more momentum in our downtown core, which is already set to benefit from The Shipyards project currently underway. Just as important, this project will provide a development boost to the existing neighborhoods around the sports complex, such as the OUTEAST neighborhood. Our goal is simple – maximize every ounce of positive impact made possible by this project so that all Jacksonville residents may benefit.”

The Jacksonville Shipyards project includes construction of a four seasons hotel, residential units and an office building.

Over the next two weeks, the Jaguars will play host to a series of Huddle Up Jax events where residents and fans can learn more about the ‘Stadium of the Future’ designs. Lamping will be on site at the community huddles, which will be strategically located around town to ensure access for all of Duval County (US county in Florida).

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