Gateway District & David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium

Designed by HNTB and Multistudio, the Gateway District is a transformative initiative redefining the University of Kansas’ northern edge. Anchored by a full reconstruction of the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and major upgrades to the adjacent Anderson Family Football Complex, the district integrates athletics, academics and multiuse development into a cohesive campus gateway.

More than a sports facility, the project is conceived as a year-round destination — supporting enrollment goals, student success and regional vitality through layered, interdependent spaces that enhance both daily campus life and game-day experience.

Designed for Experience, Connection and Adaptability

Designed to serve students, athletes, alumni and the Lawrence community, the stadium’s reimagined program emphasizes versatility and integration. Premium spaces are planned with dual uses in mind: a hospitality lobby doubles as a player entry and guest arrival sequence, while premium clubs serve as athlete dining halls on non-game days. The surrounding infrastructure is optimized for shared operations, with centralized loading, amenities and back-of-house systems enhancing both functionality and long-term sustainability.

The reconstructed bowl delivers improved sightlines, comfort and energy, while introducing multiple tiers of premium offerings — from communal social lounges to elevated suites. Each environment is tuned to a specific kind of experience, offering a spectrum of atmospheres that reflect the diversity of the fan base.

Rooted in Place, Oriented Toward the Future

The architectural language of the stadium draws from Kansas’ material and cultural landscape. Locally sourced limestone anchors the base, while lighter structural elements above create an open, welcoming presence. Rather than presenting a monolithic front, the stadium is conceived as a pavilion within a park — porous, responsive and spatially integrated with its context.

Site design strengthens this relationship further through walkable pathways, plazas and adjacent public spaces that blur the boundary between campus and city. The result is a venue that feels embedded in its setting, fostering continuity across the academic, athletic and civic spheres.

A Catalyst for the University and the Region

The Gateway District is more than an athletic development — it is a multiphase investment in the future of the university and the surrounding region. Phase one includes the new conference center at the north end, enhancements to the Anderson Family Football Complex, and the complete rebuild of the stadium’s southwest, west and north sides. Future phases will extend the district’s reach through new hospitality, retail, entertainment and academic components.

Through this layered approach, the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium project becomes more than a venue — it becomes an anchor institution, designed to evolve over time and to support the broader mission of the University of Kansas.