News
Date: November 17 2006 Project: New Minnesota Ballpark
MINNEAPOLIS – ST. PAUL – The American League Central Division Champion Minnesota Twins today announced the project team chosen to lead the construction of the new ballpark scheduled to open 2010. The team includes design architect HOK Sport, local architect HGA Architects, and construction manager M.A. Mortenson Company. The announcement was made at the Minnesota Ballpark Authority’s (MBA) monthly meeting, which took place at the Metrodome.
All three firms are well-established in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Notably, HOK Sport was the lead architect firm on the Xcel Energy Center, and Mortenson was the general contractor.
“With their rich history in creating state-of-the-art ballparks and other large-scale facilities, coupled with great knowledge of urban design, we welcome these three exemplary firms and have the highest regard for their abilities to create a legacy with the Minnesota Twins,” said Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports, Inc.
HOK Sport’s tradition of innovation has transformed the way fans experience the game of baseball. The firm conceived the design vocabulary used in today’s ballparks and is charting an inventive course for tomorrow’s venues. In the past 25 years, the firm has designed 14 new professional ballparks including Oriole Park in Baltimore, Jacobs Field in Cleveland, AT&T Park in San Francisco and PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Additionally, HOK Sport is designing new ballparks for the Mets, Yankees and Nationals.
HOK Sport was founded in 1983 as the nation’s first architecture firm dedicated to the design of sports facilities. Their architects and event managers are the world's finest and most experienced, drawing from the combined expertise of more than 825 projects with construction value exceeding $14 billion. The company’s client list is diverse and comprehensive, and includes 24 Major League Baseball franchises, 30 NFL franchises, 80 professional and civic arena clients, 40 soccer and rugby teams, 125 colleges and universities, including the University of Minnesota, 40 convention and performing arts center clients and 30 major events. With offices in Brisbane, Australia; London, England; Nashville, Tenn.; Denver, Colo.; and Kansas City, Mo, their reach is worldwide.
“The new Twins ballpark provides us with the opportunity to encourage everything that is good about urban living,” said Earl Santee, AIA, HOK Sport senior principal leading the architectural effort. “Combining a transit-oriented site with a ballpark in the heart of the Warehouse District in a meaningful way will create an energetic new place for Twins fans to call home for years to come.”
For further information please contact
Gina Leo at HOK Sport (Kansas City)
Telephone: +1 816 221 1500
Facsimile: +1 816 221 1578
Email media@hoksve.com