HOK Sport Venue Event Officially Becomes An Independent Firm

HOK Sport Venue Event officially became an independent firm on December 31, following the completion of HOK Group’s transfer of legal ownership to the practice. HOK Sport Venue Event will launch a new corporate name and brand in ’09, and HOK said that the change in ownership will have no impact on clients or projects of either firm (HOK). In K.C., Kevin Collison notes HOK Sport Venue Event "started its stand-alone life by winning a design contract" for a $410M multipurpose facility in Birmingham, Alabama, at the end of December. Construction is "expected to begin later this year on the new arena," which will "accommodate sports events such as football and basketball and double as a convention center." HOK Sport Venue Event announced in August it was purchasing its independence from HOK Group. The firm was established in '83 "when a group of architects approached HOK about establishing a sports-focused architectural office" in K.C. The company "will be managed by a partnership guided by an executive group of 13 partners" (K.C. STAR, 1/6).