LOUISVILLE, Ky., (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Kansas City-based HOK Sport has been unanimously chosen by The Louisville Arena Authority as the architect for the $252 million arena planned in downtown Louisville, Ky.
HOK Sport was part of the Downtown Arena Design Team, with 360 Architecture and Ellerbe Becket that won the design contract for the Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City.
HOK Sport will be paid $13.85 million in set fees, including expenses.
Arena authority member Dan Ulmer, who is chairman of the construction committee, said the pay structure amounts to about 6 percent of the total construction cost and is $8.6 million below the amount, budgeted for an architectural firm.
HOK Sport has worked with professional and collegiate clients around the world and has designed 56 collegiate arenas, 48 civic arenas and 32 professional arenas including the $276 million, 18,500-seat Sprint Center, which is expected to open this fall in Kansas City.
Other HOK projects include the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, United Center in Chicago and Pepsi Center in Denver.
John Shreve, a principal with HOK, said in an interview following the arena authority meeting that the Louisville project is similar to the one in Kansas City because both are key parts of downtown revitalization efforts.
Steve Hotujac, another HOK principal, told authority members that the Louisville arena is "the most important project we have right now."
"We're very excited to be here," he said.
