Populous named world’s most innovative company in architecture

Populous has been named in the prestigious annual list of the world’s most innovative companies by US-based business magazine Fast Company for the sixth time.

Ranking Populous as number one in architecture and number 32 on the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies list, Fast Company recognised the design company’s revolutionary sustainable design approach for public assembly venues.

Populous earned this year’s honour for its design of Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, USA, set to be the world’s most sustainable arena.

This year’s award marks the second time the firm has been named a leader in a category, after being named number one in live events in 2018 and is the second time Populous has been recognised for its work in architecture, the first being in 2013 with the sustainable design of the 2012 London Olympics.

Populous has also previously been named one of Fast Company’s world’s most innovative companies in sports (2009, 2010, 2020).

Welcoming the recognition, Bruce Miller, Populous’ Managing Director for the Americas, stated “innovation is a hallmark of how we bring people together.

“We have sought sustainable, industry-leading design solutions since the formation of our practice and are grateful to work with clients that entrust us to create spaces that better our communities and the environment.”

Populous - inspired by the vision of Oak View Group and Amazon to create the most sustainable arena in the world - embarked on the Climate Pledge Arena with ambitious objectives to preserve the site’s rich history and create a space to meet the needs of Seattle residents long into the future. Set to be the first net zero carbon arena in the world, Climate Pledge Arena situates an industry-leading venue authentically in an urban neighbourhood, revitalising a historic landmark and cultivating the ultimate experience for fans.

Climate Pledge Arena boasts all-electric operations, eliminating fossil fuels completely and employing on-site renewable energy production. The design began with an epic example of recycling that preserved a 20 million kilogram historic roof from the 1962 World’s Fair, reducing the embodied energy use typical of new construction. The arena uses rainwater to resurface the Seattle Kraken’s rink and features a 360-degree accessible park that houses the site’s longest living tenants: 67 mature London Plane trees.

Populous is currently leading the design of a number of other sport and entertainment venues that put sustainability at the heart of the design, to include Co-op Live in Manchester, United Kingdom, and The Cathedral in Milan, Italy.

Co-op Live will be a world-class venue that draws together technology, sustainability and multifunctionality designed to support Manchester’s Zero Carbon 2038 commitments. The Cathedral is set to be the most sustainable stadium in Europe, setting a new benchmark for innovative, sustainable and accessible stadiums.

Of the 528 organisations recognised across 52 categories, Populous’ selection to Fast Company’s Top 50 recognises the firm’s history of transformational contributions to the built world.

Images: The design for Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena (top, credit: Climate Pledge Arena) and Populous' design for the CommBank Stadium in Western Sydney (below, credit: Populous).