The People’s Architect Podcast
Episode #8 – Sports Venues as Catalysts for Urban Renewal
On today’s episode, we sit down with David Murphy, Senior Principal of Crawford Architects, and Janet Marie Smith, an architect, urban planner and MLB executive currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers, to explore sports venues as catalysts for urban renewal, and discussing the impact these facilities have beyond the game day experience. Together with host, Devon Wolfe, they explore the mechanisms behind major stadium development, the role sports venues play within the urban fabric, and the landmark projects which shape the industry today.
GUESTS:
David Murphy, Owner & Senior Principal at Crawford (https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-murphy-00897b12/)
Janet Marie Smith, Co-Founder & Chair at Canopy Team (https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithjanetmarie/)
Devon Wolfe, Associate at Crawford (https://www.linkedin.com/in/devonwolfe-info/)
Listen to episode #8 here:
Quotes from the Episode:
“When I interviewed with Larry Lucchino, the president of the Orioles, for the position to be their representative on what became Camden Yards. Larry brought me into his conference room and said, could you take a look at what’s been prepared so far and give me some reactions? … He had a draft of a master plan from RTKL and I’d thought that that master plan was one of the more impactful urban design bibles I had ever seen.”
“I learn something new in every project. Creating a district, using the building through its connections, picking up on physical and visual cues, using the site and the context given to you. Creating a catalyst for future development and the idea of a ‘district’ is been something that it all goes back to when I was fortunate enough to work on Camden Yards with Janet. It’s been a springboard for my career—most recently you could look at what we did for the Minnesota Vikings and the creating of the Viking Lakes.”
“I think it’s felt all over the city. I mean, don’t you love it when your team is in the playoffs, the lights are on in the office towers, and the logo is draped across the bronze sculptures of the Founding fathers. You know, the songs that are played in the seventh inning stretch, like do you ever go anywhere and hear Sweet Caroline without thinking of the Red Sox?
It’s way more than just a building, and I think as our society becomes more and more divisive, it’s wonderful to have something that can bring us together—something that we all can root for. I think sports have a way of kind of softening our hearts and allowing us to love something and to find that joy and freedom.”
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Crawford Media CONTACT:
Crawford Architects
1801 McGee Street Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64108
Devon Wolfe
dwolfe@crawford-usa.com
