Sam Houston State University recently opened the renovated Elliott T. Bowers Stadium complex, featuring a new press box, premium hospitality spaces, and upgraded amenities to support stadium programming. The stadium was designed by Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, in partnership with DLR Group.
Originally built in 1986, Bowers Stadium required upgrades to address aging infrastructure, accessibility requirements, and evolving expectations for collegiate athletics venues. The project replaces the existing press box with a modern facility that supports contemporary broadcasting and game-day operations while introducing new hospitality areas and improved circulation.
“College athletic facilities today have to support much more than the game itself,” said Scott Klaus, AIA, LEED AP, principal and Sports & Recreation Global leader at Stantec. “At Bowers Stadium, together with our partner DLR, we helped the university improve how people experience the venue, from the way fans move through the concourse to how athletes connect to the field, while creating flexible spaces that serve the program year-round.”
Stantec served as the prime consultant, leading site design and exterior architecture, while also contributing to interior design, construction documentation, and construction administration. DLR Group acted as sports consultant, providing program design, sightline studies, and select elements of the interior design scope.
“From day one, the goal was to create a more engaging and versatile stadium experience that meets the evolving expectations of today’s student-athletes and fans,” said DLR Group principal and Sports Design leader Greg Garlock, AIA, LEED AP BD+C. “This renovation enhances how people move through and connect within the venue, while introducing premium spaces and modern amenities that will support Sam Houston State University’s athletics program and broader campus community well into the future.”
Designing a versatile environment
The renovation introduces premium hospitality areas and flexible gathering spaces designed to support multiple uses throughout the year. The VIP lounge, for example, can also serve as a dining space for student-athletes.
Circulation and sightlines were also central to the design. A new patio deck adjacent to the VIP lounge expands gathering space and connects directly to the concourse through a bridge, creating layered views of the field, fans, and stadium activity. The stadium is also designed to support events beyond football Saturday, including campus gatherings, wedding receptions, and corporate events.
Supporting the future of collegiate athletics
Across the United States, many universities are upgrading stadiums built in the 1970s and 1980s to address outdated infrastructure while adapting to changing expectations from fans, athletes, and donors. Increasingly, institutions are prioritizing a broader range of fan environments, premium seating options, and spaces that support both athletics operations and campus use.
Stantec designs athletics facilities, student-athlete performance centers, and event venues that strengthen recruitment, fan engagement, and campus life. The firm's experience spans both higher education and K-12 athletics, including stadiums, training facilities, and multi-use venues that support programming year-round.
Learn more about Stantec’s work in sports and recreation.
About Stantec
Stantec empowers clients, people, and communities to rise to the world’s greatest challenges at a time when the world faces more unprecedented concerns than ever before.
We are a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. Our professionals deliver the expertise, technology, and innovation communities need to manage aging infrastructure, demographic and population changes, the energy transition, and more.
Today’s communities transcend geographic borders. At Stantec, community means everyone with an interest in the work that we do—from our project teams and industry colleagues to our clients and the people our work impacts. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure.
We are designers, engineers, scientists, project managers, and strategic advisors. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what’s possible.
Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN.
About DLR Group
Celebrating 60 years in 2026, DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering sustainable, human-centered solutions for communities locally and globally. The firm’s architects, engineers, interior designers, and planners collaborate with public and private sector clients to create projects with long-lasting social, economic, and environmental value. Fast Company named DLR Group among the World’s Most Innovative Companies for its industry-leading adaptive reuse strategies: innovative design that serves clients and communities while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
DLR Group’s promise is to elevate the human experience through design. As a 100% employee-owned firm, DLR Group fosters a culture of ownership and accountability that shapes its daily practice and drives its commitment to sustainability initiatives, including the 2030 Challenge, the China Accord, and the AIA 2030 Commitment.
Media Contacts
Charles Barrett
Stantec Media Relations
Ph: (919) 263-0352
charles.barrett@stantec.com
Audrey French
DLR Group Media Manager
Ph: (720) 904-0440
afrench@dlrgroup.com