The University of Kansas Conference Center at the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium positions the stadium and Gateway District as a year-round economic driver that promotes athletic excellence, business collaboration, and community engagement.

Designed by Multistudio in partnership with HNTB, the conference center reimagines how universities can activate athletic infrastructure on- and off-season to maximize year-round revenue for the entire region.

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Located at the stadium’s north end zone, the conference center functions as both a game day premium club and a scalable event space. Operable partitions, adaptable lighting, and integrated audiovisual systems allow seamless transitions between 500-person banquets, 2000-person symposia, and private receptions.

Breaking New Ground

There is little precedent for a purpose-built conference center inside a collegiate stadium. Our designers worked closely with the University of Kansas, Kansas Athletics, and the stadium operator to create a space that is appropriate for a variety of programs, applying branding and wayfinding expertise to create a cohesive experience.

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Rather than design the conference center as an afterthought to the stadium, the project was approached as a singular opportunity to enhance efficiency, functionality, and economic return for the university.

A shared central kitchen serves athletes during the school year, fans on game days, and the conference center year-round. Storage areas, loading docks, and waste management service all functions, strategically positioned to maximize productivity. Premium stadium amenities, such as the third-level Limestone Club, are available as breakout spaces during conferences and events.

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Promoting Regional Success

A conference center is often the first and sometimes the only introduction to a city for business travelers. Our designers created a welcoming and engaging space that authentically represents the region while also incorporating the energy and excitement of game days.  

From the limestone base of the conference center up to the stadium’s arching wheat columns, the entire design celebrates and uplifts Kansas culture. This narrative remains apparent through a careful visual story that begins at the WWI Memorial outside the conference center, continues through the main hall, and is anchored by the multi-use 1921 Field Club.

Gateway to Game Day

Centrally located in the conference center, the 1921 Field Club operates as premium seating on game days and a central gathering area during events. Guests have a front row seat to the stadium’s north end zone, visible through a dramatic wall of floor-to-ceiling glass. The Field Club is able to harness the energy of the stadium while maintaining an elevated, hospitality-driven atmosphere.

Positioned between the Field Club and the entrance hall for the conference center, a 360-degree central bar serves both spaces, providing visual and functional cohesion in the transition from one to the other.

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A dramatically illuminated chain mail sculpture hangs above the bar, displaying thousands of small red chains in an airy fringe that responds to changes in airflow and light, subtly referencing the university’s waving wheat motif.

The conference center and larger Gateway District project reflect a growing national trend in higher education: transforming athletic venues into multi-use civic assets that drive both university and regional economic activity.