HOK Sport was created last year after HOK Sports FacilitiesGroup joinedwith Lobb Sports Architects of London and Brisbane,Australia. The firmnow has 300 employees, including 250 in KansasCity. The project wasdesigned before the merger with Lobb Sportsunder the contractural nameof Bligh Lobb Sports Architecture.

Design of the 110,000-seat Stadium Australia was centered on"the needto preserve the unique qualities of sports competitionwhile resolvingthe needs of the spectator the operator," accordingto Carrie Plummer,public relations/marketing coordinator for HOKSport.

The structure incorporated elements that allowed rain falling onthestadium's roof to be collected to water the field. It also wasequippedwith technological infrastructure that provides for futuredigitaltelevision requirements. The roof is supported with295-meter longtrusses that measure more than half the span ofSydney's Harbour Bridge.The lead designer and principal in chargeof Stadium Australia was HOKSport senior vice president RodSheard.