HOK to revamp Carolina Panthers NFL stadium in Charlotte

HOK design for Panthers stadium renovation

Architecture studio HOK has released designs for Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina featuring a new facade treatment and luxurious amenity spaces to "meet the expectations of fans and athletes for decades to come".

Tepper Sports & Entertainment, owner of the stadium, commissioned HOK to revamp the 75,000-seat Bank of America Stadium. It was originally designed by Wagner Murray Architects and Populous (then HOK Sport) and opened in 1996.

The architecture studio highlighted the decision to renovate rather than replace the stadium, the latter a move that many teams are making as they seek to create facilities better suited to year-round operation.

"Rather than replace the venue, the renovation of Bank of America Stadium aims to modernize one of the NFL's most recognizable stadiums and ensure it continues to meet the expectations of fans and athletes for decades to come," said HOK.

HOK's exterior intervention will be most visible where the concrete bowl is visible above the exterior shell. The current configuration features a series of concrete arches at the bowl's crest, resembling a crown, in line with Charlotte's moniker – Queen City.

The new crown will be smoother, with metallic bands wrapping the arches.

Below, a roof will wrap the stadium's current exterior mezzanine, while the domes that crest the entrance arches will be converted into blocky forms. The remainder of the facade will be covered in glass, obscuring the columns and spandrels visible on the current facade.

Amenity spaces are top of mind for the redevelopment, with a new social patio at the top of the stands as well as improved and expanded gathering spaces and athletic facilities.

Renderings show a lounge with white walls and a modern chandelier in a double-height space with a mezzanine looking down.

HOK said the redesign was meant to draw from the locale without being "overtly thematic".

"Drawing inspiration from the landscapes and culture of the Carolinas, the design establishes a strong sense of place through materiality, texture and restrained detailing rather than overt thematic expression," said HOK.

"Interior environments subtly reflect the region's mountain, coastal, urban and local identities. A clean, forward-looking palette of metal, glass and wood with refined finishes inside and out creates a contemporary architectural language designed to endure for decades."

Landscaping new public plazas will be integrated into the area surrounding the stadium, as well as an entertainment venue that will be able to seat more than 4,000 people. The entertainment venue is a boxy structure attached to the stadium and is not part of HOK's scope.

HOK said these moves were aimed at making the stadium more public-facing.

"Strategic interventions, including new public plazas, social gathering spaces, park-like landscaping and ground-level activation, transform a once inward-facing facility into a transparent multi-use environment, reinforcing the stadium's important role in the community," said the studio.