The NFL Panthers have selected Populous to design a master plan tied to upgrades at Bank of America Stadium over the next 10 years, according to sources familiar with the process. The K.C.-based architect originally designed the stadium when the firm was known as HOK Sport. Sports design firms AECOM, HKS and 360 Architecture also competed for the job. The 74,459-seat stadium opened in Charlotte in '96. Two regional sports designers are part of Populous’ team -- David Wagner of Wagner Murray Architects in Charlotte, and Ron Smith of McMillan, Pazdan and Smith of Spartanburg, S.C. Wagner “has been involved from the stadium since day one,” designing premium spaces, said Panthers President Danny Morrison. Smith designed the renovation of the Panthers’ weight room inside the stadium. Wagner and Smith join Populous senior principal Dennis Wellner, a designer of multiple NFL facilities. Together, they will spend the next year forming a plan addressing all areas of the stadium. “The good news for us is this is a great stadium designed for NFL football,” Morrison said. “It has been fabulously maintained. The Panthers have put a lot of dollars into it over the years and it is still one of the best in the NFL.”
