Dive Brief:
- The Texas Rangers have selected Dallas-based architecture firm HKS to design their new $1 billion Arlington, TX, ballpark, according to the Star-Telegram.
- Officials said they chose HKS because the company has vast experience in baseball stadium design and was amenable to the team’s vision that the new venue be a blend of high-tech — with a retractable roof and other modern features — and traditional design.
- Although HKS is relatively far off from delivering a final design, Bryan Trubey, HKS executive vice president and principal designer for the Rangers’ stadium, said pedestrian streets will replace traditional interior concourses, and the venue will be integrated with the $250 million Texas Live! mixed-use entertainment complex next door.
Dive Insight:
HKS has also had a hand in such baseball stadiums as Miller Park in Milwaukee, U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, as well as the Rangers’ current home in Arlington, Globe Life Park. Football stadiums are also one of the company’s specialties, and this past summer, Mortensen Construction completed the $1.1 billion HKS-designed Minnesota Vikings U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. HKS also served as the architect for the Dallas Cowboys’ new AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
In November, the Rangers also announced that they had hired stadium veteran Jack Hill to oversee construction on the new ballpark. Hill played a key role in building Globe Life, as well as other HKS projects such as AT&T Stadium and Miller Park.
In November, Arlington voters cleared the way for construction to begin by giving the green light for $500 million in bonds to help finance construction of the new Rangers stadium. The deal keeps the team from relocating until at least 2053 and will be funded by various city tax increases. The team will also kick in $500 million toward the stadium and will be responsible for any cost overruns. The Rangers said they expect to be playing in the new stadium no later than 2021.
