What if the future of sports design wasn’t about bigger stadiums—but about smarter, more connected communities?

In this episode of Foundation Issues, host Dhara Patel sits down with Jon Niemuth, FAIA, Principal and Director of Sports at Gensler, to explore how the world’s largest design firm is redefining what it means to build for performance, culture, and connection.

With three decades of experience shaping everything from the Seattle Seahawks’ home field to the Sacramento Kings’ LEED Platinum-certified arena, Jon shares how technology, sustainability, and storytelling are transforming sports architecture into a living ecosystem.

He unpacks how fan experiences are becoming frictionless through data and design, what “authenticity” really means in community-building, and why leadership in high-pressure projects starts with getting out of your team’s way.

What You’ll Learn:

• How stadiums are evolving from venues into lifestyle ecosystems
• The role of data and technology in modern sports design
• Why authenticity is the new metric for community impact
• Leadership lessons from high-stakes, multimillion-dollar projects
• How design, business, and performance intersect to shape culture

• 🔗 linkedin.com/in/jonniemuth
• 🌐 gensler.com
• 📸 Instagram & Twitter: @JonNiemuth

• 🔗 linkedin.com/in/dharapatel001
• 🌐 outerrealmvr.com

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow construction professional, marketer, or leader, and don’t forget to leave us a review. New episodes drop weekly!