Populous acknowledged with Queensland Government award for export success

Global architecture firm Populous has been recognised in India by the Queensland Premier for its ongoing contribution to developing the state’s export success.

The practice, which has its key regional headquarters for Asia and the Pacific in Brisbane and is well known for designing venues including Suncorp Stadium, the Brisbane Lions’ Brighton Homes Arena, Cbus Super Stadium and the Queensland Tennis Centre, has been operating in India for more than a decade.

It has 22 staff in its New Delhi office working directly with its APAC Head Studio in Brisbane, including working with the Indian Government on its bid for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A Certificate of Recognition for outstanding contribution to Queensland’s export success was presented to Populous Director Chris Paterson by the Queensland Premier David Crisafulli at a ceremony hosted by Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) at Taj Palace, New Delhi on 1 September 2025.

Welcoming the acknowledgement, Paterson stated “India’s love of sport and Populous’ expertise in designing the world’s best stadia and arenas mean we are a natural fit.

"This recognition represents more than 25 years of working across the Asia Pacific region by our team of designers, and specifically more than 10 years of collaboration between our highly skilled architects in Brisbane and India.”

Populous’ flagship Indian design project to date is the world’s largest cricket stadium, Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which has a 110,000-seat capacity. Populous is currently designing India’s largest indoor arena with a capacity of 20,000 and has worked on many other cricket projects, master plans, convention and exhibition centres, and elite sports training facilities in India in recent years.

Henry added “our India and Brisbane offices are supporting Ahmedabad in its Olympic journey, a significant development given Brisbane’s own preparation to host the 2032 Olympics”

Populous’ team in India is led by Principals, Isha Rathee and Siddharth Soni, who are currently bringing the firm’s experience from working on 15 Olympic and Paralympic Games to India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics.

Soni noted “we’re very happy to have been assisting the Indian Government for four years on its major events infrastructure, including the SVP Sports Enclave and most recently the masterplan and concept for the Gujarat Police Academy at Karai, which includes the design of the 50,000 capacity new Athletics Stadium.

"Populous is in a unique position having designed both the Narendra Modi stadium and now the main Athletics Stadium - the two main stadiums showcasing India’s 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games’ aspirations."

Images: Queensland Premier David Crisafulli presents the award for Populous’ Outstanding Contribution to Queensland’s Export Success to Populous Director Chris Paterson and Populous’ India joint-country lead Isha Rathee at a ceremony in New Delhi (top, credit: Populous) and the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad (below, credit: Shutterstock).