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Dan Meis

Dan Meis is an American architect specializing in and entertainment design, renowned for creating innovative, fan-focused stadiums and arenas that integrate , urban regeneration, and across the globe. With nearly 40 years of experience, he has led projects valued at over $15 billion in the United States, , , and the , earning recognition as a leading innovator in the field. Born in 1961 in and based in , Meis studied and engineering at the before earning a from the University of Illinois at in 1985. His career began in Helmut Jahn's office, where he honed skills in complex building design, before joining Ellerbe Becket in Kansas City as a senior designer. There, he contributed to landmark projects like the in , the world's first fully transformable stadium. In the 1990s, Meis co-founded the sports and entertainment division at , leading designs for venues such as (formerly Safeco Field) in , with its enabling natural grass play, and the Staples Center (now ) in , one of North America's highest revenue-generating buildings. In 2007, Meis founded his eponymous firm, MEIS Architects, with studios in and , focusing on multidisciplinary approaches to and . Notable international works include Paul Brown Stadium (now ) in , the first facility to receive an AIA Honor Award; his design for the proposed at Tor di Valle in , inspired by the , which stalled and was ultimately relocated and redesigned; and Everton Club's Hill Dickinson Stadium, a 52,888-seat venue at Bramley-Moore Dock in , completed in 2025 to honor the club's heritage while driving . More recently, as Director of Global Sports Design at since 2024, Meis has advanced sustainable projects like the carbon-neutral Intuit Dome in . His achievements include elevation to Fellow of the in 2006, two Business Week/Architectural Record Awards, inclusion in Time Magazine's 2001 "100 Innovators in the World of Sports," and twice being named to Sports Business Journal's "40 under 40."

Early life and education

Early life

Dan Meis was born in 1961 in . He grew up in , a small farming community in , where his early interest in emerged, initially envisioning a career designing houses for residents of .

Education

Meis began his postsecondary studies at the , where he pursued for two years before transferring to the University of Illinois at Chicago. He completed his architectural education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, earning a degree in 1985. In 2011, Meis served as the Nancy M. and Edward D. Fox Urban Design Critic at the School of Architecture, where he taught courses focused on stadium design. His teaching emphasized practical aspects of designing sports venues, integrating his professional experience in entertainment and urban projects into the academic framework.

Professional career

Early career

Meis began his professional career in shortly after earning his architecture degree in 1985, joining the firm Murphy/Jahn under the mentorship of renowned architect . There, he contributed to the design of skyscrapers and civic buildings, working on multiple high-rise projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment that handled up to 40 commissions at a time. As a young designer, Meis played a role in developing award-winning office towers in and internationally, gaining foundational experience in large-scale structural and urban during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1992, Meis transitioned to sports architecture by joining in Kansas City as a senior designer. There, he contributed to landmark projects, including serving as lead designer for the in , the world's first fully transformable stadium, and the in , Europe's largest indoor arena at the time. Bringing his experience in sports facility design, Meis co-founded NBBJ's sports and practice in 1995 alongside partners Ron Turner and Michael Hallmark, establishing it as a specialized division within the Seattle-based firm. This initiative quickly expanded, growing to over 70 architects and staff by 1999, and focused on integrating industry influences from its base. Meis served as design partner, leading early projects that defined the practice's direction through the late and early . Among his initial contributions at , Meis was the lead designer for landmark sports venues, including the Staples Center (now ) in , completed in 1999, which featured innovative seating and master planning for a multi-use complex. He also spearheaded the design of Safeco Field (now ) in , opened in 1999, emphasizing technology and fan-centric layouts, and Miller Park (now ) in , completed in 2001, known for its convertible roof and integration with urban surroundings. These projects established 's reputation in sports facility design and highlighted Meis's approach to blending functionality, spectacle, and community impact.

MEIS Architects

In 2007, drawing from his prior experience co-founding the sports and entertainment practice at , Dan Meis established MEIS Architects as an independent firm in , , with a subsequent office opening in 2013. The firm developed as a boutique multidisciplinary practice specializing in the of venues, entertainment spaces, and activations, emphasizing innovative designs that enhance user experiences and spectacle. In June 2021, MEIS integrated with as MEIS—A Perkins Eastman Studio, enabling expanded resources and global reach while preserving its core focus on high-profile projects in and . Notable partnerships underscored the firm's expertise, including a 2017 collaboration with tennis star to create branded tennis courts, fitness facilities, and wellness centers tailored for elite athletic performance and public access. MEIS also partnered with Live Nation in 2019 to scope and design upgrades for a portfolio exceeding 40 outdoor amphitheaters, incorporating modern amenities to modernize venues and boost audience engagement through 2024. By May 2024, the firm comprised a 13-person design studio team dedicated to sports and entertainment architecture, at which point it was announced that this group would integrate into AECOM's global sports design practice.

AECOM

In May 2024, appointed Dan Meis as Director of Global Sports Design and Senior Vice President, positioning him to lead the firm's sports and entertainment architecture practice worldwide. This role leverages his extensive prior experience in high-profile stadium design to drive 's expansion in the sector. The appointment facilitated the integration of Meis's 13-person MEIS Design Studio team into 's sports practice, enhancing capabilities and enabling broader international project pursuits across , , and beyond. Throughout 2025, Meis has remained prominently engaged in global industry events and discussions, including delivering a keynote panel on "Icons Under Construction: Major Sport & Entertainment Stadiums in Development" at Build 2025 in November. In February 2025, he featured in an in-depth interview with Stadia Magazine, where he explored innovations in stadium design, emphasizing fan-centric and sustainable approaches. Meis continues to oversee key ongoing projects under , notably the progress of FC's at , which opened in February 2025; his involvement includes regular 2025 site visits and direct interactions with fans, who have expressed enthusiasm through personal encounters such as hugs in public.

Awards and honors

Major awards

Dan Meis was elevated to the College of Fellows of the (FAIA) in 2006, an honor bestowed upon architects who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to the profession through design excellence, leadership, and service. This fellowship recognizes Meis's innovative work in sports and entertainment , particularly his ability to integrate functionality with aesthetic and economic impact in large-scale venues. Meis has received the Business Week/Architectural Record Award twice, a prestigious accolade that highlights architectural projects achieving significant business and organizational outcomes. In 2001, his design for Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati earned the award for enhancing the ' revenue streams through forward-thinking urban integration and fan experience improvements; it also marked the first stadium to receive a national AIA Honor Award, underscoring its architectural merit. The second honor came for the in , where Meis's transformable design was lauded for meeting ambitious commercial goals while setting a global standard for multifunctional arenas. Meis was twice selected for Sports Business Journal's "" list, identifying rising leaders shaping the sports industry. He appeared in the inaugural 1999 class as design principal at Sports and Entertainment, noted for pioneering venue designs like the Staples Center. His second inclusion in 2000 further affirmed his influence, particularly through high-profile projects that blended architecture with sports business innovation.

Other recognitions

In 2001, Dan Meis was featured magazine as one of the "100 Innovators in the World of Sports" for his pioneering work in arena and design. Meis's design for the Staples Center (now ) in has received widespread acclaim from industry publications, with outlets describing it as the "greatest ever built" due to its innovative multipurpose layout and fan-focused amenities. Meis has been recognized as a leading innovator in sports architecture through various profiles, including a 2024 feature on AECOM's blog that highlights his role as Director of Global Sports Design and his influence on transformative venues worldwide. In a 2025 interview with Stadia Magazine, he was profiled as a "legendary designer," discussing his evolution from arenas to soccer stadiums and the shifting priorities in fan experience design. These informal honors underscore the broader cultural impact of his career, complementing his formal awards by emphasizing peer and esteem in the field.

Notable designs

Sports venues

Dan Meis contributed to the design of the Staples Center (now ) in while serving as a lead designer at , with the venue opening on October 17, 1999. The multi-purpose arena accommodates , , and concerts, featuring a flexible layout that supports the , Clippers, and , along with innovative private suites offering sophisticated amenities and sightlines optimized for diverse events. Its capacity is approximately 19,000 for and 18,000 for , establishing it as a benchmark for urban entertainment-sports integration. Meis also led the design of Safeco Field (now ) in , which opened in July 1999 as a baseball-specific with a capacity of 47,929. A key innovation was its , comprising three independently moving 13-ton segments that form an umbrella-like structure to protect against rain while preserving an open-air feel, allowing natural grass and enhanced player-fan interaction characteristic of early revival trends. For the Cincinnati Bengals, Meis designed Paul Brown Stadium (now ), which opened in 2000 with a capacity of 65,515 and marked the first NFL stadium to receive the () Honor Award for its architectural excellence. The riverfront design integrates seamlessly with the Bengals' identity through fan-focused elements like open concourses for views of the and premium seating that enhances community ties, while its structural efficiency and aesthetic restraint were praised in AIA evaluations. The in , designed by Meis at and opening in 2004, serves as a multi-purpose venue with main arena capacity between 19,000 and 22,500 for and configurations up to 37,000 for concerts and other events. Its transformable floor system allows rapid reconfiguration, and the structure incorporates seismic adaptations such as base isolation and a hybrid system to withstand earthquakes, earning recognition as one of the world's 50 best buildings by Architectural Record in 2001 for its engineering ingenuity. Meis Architects designed for , which opened in May 2021 in the West End neighborhood with a capacity of 26,000, revitalizing an urban site at the confluence of the Licking and Rivers. The stadium emphasizes fan experience through features like 3,100 safe-standing seats in the north end supporter section, a full canopy roof covering all seats for weather protection and noise amplification, and an LED-integrated facade for visual engagement, fostering community integration in a historically underserved area. The , a 18,000-seat arena for the in , designed under Meis's leadership at , opened in August 2024 and is the world's first carbon-neutral NBA arena, featuring advanced sustainability measures, a "" video board, and enhanced fan experiences. Meis led the design for Everton FC's new stadium at in , which opened in August 2025 as the 52,888-seat . Inspired by 's maritime heritage, the brick, steel, and glass facade references the docklands' industrial legacy, featuring four distinct stands—including a steep 13,000-seat main stand—to retain acoustics and create intimacy. The site is within the former World Heritage area. The , envisioned for in Rome's Tor di Valle , was conceptualized by Meis as a 52,500-seat venue inspired by the , featuring a rhythmic stone scrim facade wrapping a steel-and-concrete bowl for visual continuity with Roman architecture. The design anchors a mixed-use with shops, restaurants, and an to ensure year-round activity. As of November 2025, the project remains in planning amid financial and regulatory challenges, with no construction started despite intermittent advancements in funding discussions.

Entertainment and commercial projects

In 2018, Dan Meis formed a partnership with tennis star to design boutique sports, , and wellness facilities targeted at the , including large-scale resorts, centers, and spas focused on athlete performance, well-being, and injury recovery. The collaboration, tentatively named Sharapova/MEIS, aimed to provide design services, operational consultations, and licensing for these venues, with initial projects in discussion for hotels, resorts, and country clubs by late 2018. This effort drew on Meis's experience in creating immersive environments to elevate user experiences in non-traditional settings. A key outcome of the partnership was the 2019 Sharapova/MEIS Tennis Wellness Center Study for a confidential client, which proposed upgrading existing facilities with a 10,000-square-foot featuring a high-end , auditorium, and areas, alongside a mini-stadium accommodating 5,000 seats with berms and outdoor seating options. The study also included reconfiguration of courts, landscape activation zones for , enhanced VIP programming, and integrated branding to support operational . Ongoing since 2019, the project emphasized inspirational elements to foster athletic training and wellness in a context, though specific locations remain undisclosed. Meis's firm, MEIS Architects, collaborated with on upgrades to a portfolio of outdoor amphitheaters across multiple U.S. locations, developing master plans to enhance the music attendee experience through research-driven , , and lounge spaces. These renovations incorporated sponsor integration and activation strategies to boost revenue, with tailored visions for each venue focusing on acoustic improvements, seating innovations, and overall brand strengthening for . The initiative, spanning various sites, prioritized planning and unique experiential enhancements without specifying individual amphitheaters like the . Earlier in his career at , where Meis co-founded the Sports and Entertainment division in the , he contributed to entertainment-focused projects that extended beyond pure sports, influencing later commercial work through integrated urban activation concepts. In 2013, through MEIS Architects, he led the $100 million Herald Square Renovation in , transforming an existing indoor mall into an urban event and experience destination with LED signage, performance spaces, and branding opportunities to increase value and . This mixed-use commercial project highlighted Meis's approach to blending elements with strategies, creating dynamic public spaces that drew from his broader venue design expertise.

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