Architecture and design firm Perkins+Will announced that Denver-based Sink Combs Dethlefs, a national leader in sports, recreation, and entertainment architecture, has joined the firm. Denver now becomes the home of Perkins+Will’s 24th design studio.

The merger, which significantly bolsters Perkins+Will’s visibility in the Rocky Mountain West region, is part of the firm’s strategy to meet growing global demand for design that promotes holistic human health and well-being.

“The biggest driver behind the union of our two firms is the increasing focus on designing for ‘full-circle’ health and well-being—that is, giving people the opportunity to be active, fit, healthy, and happy at every point on the continuum of life experience,” said Perkins+Will CEO Phil Harrison. “Together with Sink Combs Dethlefs, we can deliver creative, research-driven solutions to meet this demand, while providing superior client service—a shared hallmark of our practices.”

Founded in 1962, Sink Combs Dethlefs’ projects include the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse at the UCHealth Training Center, home of the Denver Broncos, in Englewood, Colorado; the University of Michigan Crisler Arena renovation and William Davidson Player Development Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan; the Chesapeake Energy Arena renovation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania; and the visitor and conference center at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

The merger comes at a critical time in the architecture, design, and construction industry, where historically distinct project typologies, disciplines, and practice areas are now blending in both form and function, and where health and well-being are considered paramount. For example, academic buildings are adopting active workplace design trends; corporate interiors are borrowing design elements from health and wellness centers; healthcare facilities are taking design cues from the hospitality sector; hotels are incorporating aspects of sports and recreation; athletics and entertainment facilities are serving as community anchors in walkable, mixed-use urban developments; and so on.

By combining firms, Perkins+Will and Sink Combs Dethlefs can cross-pollinate services to meet these overlapping market needs.

“This ‘blurring of the lines’ is a powerful emerging trend in the world of design, so it’s an exciting time to be leading the way forward,” saod Don

Dethlefs of Sink Combs Dethlefs, now chair of Perkins+Will’s expanded Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment practice. “By blending our areas of expertise, we’re able to provide clients—no matter what sector they’re in—with fresh, forward-thinking solutions that prioritize fitness, health, and well-being.”

Known for designing arenas and event centers, collegiate athletic facilities, community recreation centers, civic centers, and spectator venues, Sink Combs Dethlefs naturally expands Perkins+Will’s range of client service offerings.

This is particularly true in the higher education sector, where Perkins+Will is an established leader in the design of student centers, research facilities, academic buildings, administrative centers, and residence halls, as well as in campus planning, and where the firm’s portfolio of athletic centers is now starting to grow.

It is also true within the urban design sector, where Perkins+Will’s Cities and Sites practice is global leader in creating dynamic, animated, health-conscious cities, and where sports and entertainment arenas are increasingly becoming catalysts for economic growth in downtown mixed-use districts.

“The addition of Sink Combs Dethlefs’ highly specialized talent and expertise will be a great boon to our clients around the world, and will certainly open new doors for us,” said Harrison. “Already, many of our most valued and long-standing clients have expressed their excitement about the merger and are eager to explore the possibilities.”

By the same token, Perkins+Will’s expertise across a dozen practice areas, combined with its worldwide network of talent, greatly diversifies the types of services that Sink Combs Dethlefs can offer.

“As one firm, we now have shared access to all of the talent and resources that meet our clients’ needs,” said Andrew Barnard, former president of Sink Combs Dethlefs, now managing director of Perkins+Will’s Denver office. “The client experience will be smoother, simpler, and more efficient. The quality of work and caliber of design, which have always been high, will be amplified. And the level of personalized client service, which has always been exceptional, will reach new heights. We see this as all very positive.”

Event industry veteran Paul Sergeant announced the formation of Paul Sergeant Events Pty Ltd (PSE), a Melbourne-based management company specializing in securing and promoting niche events in Australia. Sergeant, former head of several major Australian and international venues including Wembley Stadium, Qudos Bank Arena (formerly Allphones Arena), Suncorp Stadium and Etihad Stadium, believes “there is an array of quality, niche event content around the world that is seeking to expand beyond its own boundaries but doesn’t necessarily have the resources or knowledge to take on a move into Australia” and has set up PSE to do just that.

Another core function of the organization is providing advisory services to the right’s owners of fringe sports’ events and venues within Australia who often require a helping hand to support their growth.

Sergeant stepped down from his role as CEO of Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium in 2016 and in forming PSE has brought together a team of experts that include CFO Chris Charleson, Head of Commercial Sarah Brady, and Head of Operations Glen Rainsbury. “I’ve always worked on the basis that you need to know where the talented people are and these people are among the best in the industry here in Australia. Chris, Sarah and Glen are highly respected across the sport and entertainment business internationally. They know what they’re doing, have immense experience and aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and make things happen,” Sergeant said.

The experience of the PSE team is spread across the world. Sergeant was the former boss of Wembley Stadium and Millennium Stadium in the UK, as well as Suncorp Stadium, Allphones Arena and Etihad Stadium in Australia. Charleson, a chartered accountant, was the former COO/CFO of Ticketek and Nine Events based in Sydney while Brady headed up many consumer business and sport presentation departments at an array of sporting clubs including the Brisbane Lions, South Sydney Rabbitohs and GWS GIANTS. Rainsbury has held a combination of sales and operational roles at Brisbane Entertainment Centre and The Gabba as well as with the Royal Horticultural Society with the Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows in London.

Collectively, the PSE team has the commercial and operational experience of dealing with more than 10,000 major events across a 37-year period, including indoor and outdoor sporting events, concerts, religious gatherings, festivals, functions and conferences.

More recently, the PSE team formed the core management team that proved to be a major success at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. “During the three and a half years we worked together we secured and successfully delivered a vast array of massive international events including the world record breaking UFC193, Australian Speedway Grand Prix, Edinburgh Military Tattoo as well as concerts by Coldplay, Adele, The Foo Fighters, Taylor Swift and many others,” Sergeant said.

The Las Vegas Convention Center is currently being used to help in the aftermath of the Sunday night shooting that has left 59 dead and more than 500 injured during an outdoor country music festival.

Amanda Arentsen, communications manager with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), spoke with IAVM to update on the use of the venue following the attack that resulted in the deadliest mass-shooting in the United States.

“Right now, the South Hall is being used as a resource center for victims and their loved ones,” Arentsen said. “That is also where donations are being collected. We have such a tremendous outpouring of assistance at this time. The County, who is handling logistics of the center, is the best resource for determining what help is needed most at this time. Earlier today, they were encouraging people to offer volunteer services.”

For resource information, please click here.

The LVCVA added the following official statement from President/CEO Rossi Ralenkotter: “The thoughts and prayers of all of Las Vegas go out to the victims and their families. This was a horrific, yet isolated, incident. At this time, it is important to allow the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police to conclude their investigation into the incident and to attend to the needs of the victims and their families. Las Vegas is a strong community that will work through this tragic incident. We are grateful beyond words to our incomparable law enforcement, first responders and everyone who continues to help victims and their families.”

The iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois, is now the TaxSlayer Center after a new naming rights deal.

The 12,000-seat arena and conference center now has the online and professional tax and financial services technology company as its new partner for the Illinois Quad-City Civic Center Authority’s arena and conference center.

The venue opened as The Mark of the Quad-Cities in 1993 and became iWireless Center in 2005 as part of a 10-year sponsorship.

“We are thrilled to have TaxSlayer as our naming rights sponsor,” said Scott Mullen, executive director of the arena. “The partnership will allow us to continue to reinvest back into the facility keeping it looking new and incorporating new technologies for the benefit of our guests.”

TaxSlayer is a name in collegiate athletics with the TaxSlayer Bowl held in Jacksonville, Flroida, at EverBank Field and what was previously known as the Gator Bowl. The company is also active in PGA and NASCAR circles.

“We have a huge brand awareness in the southeast United States, and we have been pursuing in the last six months an opportunity to get our name out in the Midwest,” TaxSlayer chief marketing officer Chris Moloney said in a released statement. “The Quad-Cities is the perfect city for us. It’s the perfect match. It is our goal that the Quad-Cities will continue to bring first-class A-quality entertainment to one of the best mid-sized venues in the United States.”

The new deal is a reported more than $3.3 million for more than 10 years. Mullen added that a search had been ongoing for some time for a new naming rights deal and that he was pleased the deal came to fruition.

As with other naming rights deals, the transition to the new name will take place over the next few months to include logos, signage, and uniforms, and other areas.

2018 2^nd Vice Chair Application Due by December 31, 2017.

The IAVM Leadership Development Committee is seeking candidates who are well-versed in all areas of venue management, invested in their own professional growth and the growth of others, are dedicated to the advancement of the venue industry as a whole and have the demonstrated ability to lead the Association.

The application process and criteria are available here. The deadline to submit your application to Rosanne Duke, Director of Governance/Operations, is December 31, 2017.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have attained CFE designation and maintain the designation throughout the term of office;
• Must be a dues-paying (either Individual or Group Membership), Professional Member of IAVM and remain as such throughout the term of office;
• Must have previously served at least one full term on the IAVM Board of Directors;
• Must have served at least one full year as Chair of:
• an IAVM Committee,
• the Board of Regents,
• the Board of Governors, or
• the IAVM Foundation Board of Trustees;
• Must have served on any combination of at least 3 of the following:
• IAVM Committees,
• Board of Regents,
• Board of Governors, or
• Board of Trustees;
• Must have been employed in one of the 2 top positions in a venue for at least 10 years;
• Must have completed at least 1 of the following IAVM school programs:
• Venue Management School
• Graduate Institute
• Senior Executive Symposium
• Academy for Venue Safety & Security
• Must have attended VenueConnect at least 3 times, and any combination of at least 3 other programs (from the list below) in the previous 6 years:
• Additional years at VenueConnect;
• Other IAVM school programs;
• Sector Conferences
• Region Meetings
• Chapter Meetings

 

The nomination process is Member-initiated. The web site directs the interested members to review the criteria and utilize the online self-assessment tool to help determine their individual eligibility as a candidate for senior officer, and to ultimately submit an application form should they wish to be considered as a candidate.

The application and supporting documentation is due by December 31, 2017.