HOK architecture firm reveals plan for $1B St. Louis stadium

Dive Brief:

St. Louis-based architecture firm HOK released new renderings of the nearly $1 billion proposed stadium — located on St. Louis' north Mississippi riverfront — that include a public art wall, an observation deck over the river flood wall and a three-story brew pub.
If built, the stadium would rack up a total of $820 million in construction costs and an additional $60 million for land acquisition. The firm said another $118 million would be needed for miscellaneous costs, including design and professional fees.
Now that the design work is finished, the plan will be presented during the October NFL owners meeting. It is still unclear if the St. Louis Rams will occupy the stadium, as team owner Stan Kroenke has said he wants to move the Rams to Inglewood, CA, and offered up a nearly $2 billion stadium proposal.

Dive Insight:

Kroenke proposed his California stadium plan in January, and city officials responded just days later with their project plan to keep the team in St. Louis.

The current financing plan for the stadium would involve $135 million from the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority bond proceeds from the state and $66 million in new bond proceeds from St. Louis. Lawsuits have been filed calling into question both the city and state's ability to get the money without a vote from the public.

The Missouri Development Finance Board's also approved $15 million in state tax credits for the project — which is predicted to increase to $50 million over the next three years.

Earlier this year, the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council said it would permit a plan for round-the-clock work on the new stadium project, would could save the city $45 million. Scheduling three eight-hour shifts each weekday would eliminate overtime costs, as the city would try to construct the 64,000-seat outdoor stadium in just two years.

HOK was selected by the governor's stadium task force because of its experience designing major sports stadiums, including the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.