Populous is one of the big Architect firms that do stadium and arenas. Scott Radecic is a principle and one of the founders.
I think Populous (then HOK) designed the south upper deck. If that's an example of their best work I'm not impressed.
Populous is very likely the best in the world at what they do. The University's architecture department isn't equipped for a massive, department-wide project like this; Populous does this every single day. Chastise the Athletic Department for some things, but not for hiring the best firm in the world to design its master plan.
Populous builds practically every major sporting venue in the country. I think they have a pretty good presence globally too but not certain about that. Do you want deans and professors just working on blueprints in the evening after a long day of running the academics? Stopping in on weekends and in-between classes, office hours, and staff meetings to check on the construction? Some of you might not care, but comments like this are why you tend to get labeled as being elitists and cult members. You don't think anyone from the outside world can help you.
That's also an ultra-modern NFL facility in the NYC metro area built to host MAJOR events. Even if PSU's new stadium could attract some concerts, a Winter Classic, and some other events, it doesn't need the amenities that the largest sporting venue in the NYC metro area needs.
Whatever you do, you better recognize that CFB is not a growing sport. I cannot imagine that the average age is getting any younger--indeed I think I have read that the average age of CFB fans is rising every year.
get your stories straight, Sandy was not fired, nor was she unemployed at the time of the PSU hire. Sandy was merely re-assigned within the athletic department at Cal.
I kinda' figured this was common knowledge by now.....but maybe it isn't.
so to be clear, she was not fired, also she not unemployed at the time of her hire by PSU, correct?
Sorry, calling bullshit on this one. Never did I suggest that anyone from outside the community couldn't help and you damn well know it. You either have an anti-Penn State itch that needs constant scratching, or you're just dense. Either way, my point was not to have the university "build" the new stadium project, but rather to conduct the type of survey indicated within the article (which I assume you read). Ultimately, as pointed out, the school of architecture isn't designed to assemble the pieces, but they certainly can conduct an interest survey about something so dear to their own community.
The firm you hire to build or renovate is going to want to conduct their own survey and not just go based on one done in-house. Might as well loop them in to begin with. I have nothing against PSU. Read the article, thought it was interesting, and wanted to see what the conversation was like on here. Most people in this thread are completely rational and normal talking about it. Regardless of that, you would want an outside firm for the insurance reasons as another poster mentioned and because you want emotion removed from the equation.
There are some real "funnies" in that article. Chief among them is this unqualified beauty:
I apologize for the obvious misunderstanding. There wasn't a single portion of that quote which suggests elitism. Again, you have to read it with a preconceived notion to come away with it what you did. So I get it...Penn Staters are elitist cult members who only concern themselves with what is in their own little bubble, right? Your bias pal, not mine.
Elitist may be the wrong word. But there is a small but overly vocal portion of the fan base that turns every perceived slight into some butt hurt conspiracy. Some of that portion of the fan base turn anything into a reason to play the victim card. It gets old. And hypocritical considering outside of PSU football, a lot of these same people are the "stop complaining and being so sensitive, deal with it" types.
