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Michael Robinson
Directly connected to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, the University of Kansas Conference Center redefines athletic infrastructure as a year-round convening destination, physically and visually linked to the stadium, with views of the field that extend the energy of game day into everyday use.
Designed for flexibility, the 55,000 SF Conference Center supports a wide range of event types, transitioning between gameday use and refined conference environments. A shared pre-function space anchors the plan, while adaptable furniture systems, operable partitions, and integrated digital infrastructure allow for quick reconfiguration.
Subtle Jayhawk brand references, hospitality-forward materials, and dynamic graphics systems ensure the space feels entrenched in KU’s identity while remaining flexible for external events.
A highlight of the Conference Center, the Field Club is a multifunctional space that operates as a premium seating area on game days and seamlessly transitions into a central meeting hub for Conference Center events the remainder of the year.
Located directly in front of the end zone, the Field Club’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows reveal a spectacular view of the stadium. Breathtaking in and of itself, the experience is unparalleled on game day. The formal Field Club entrance is distinct from the Conference Center entrance, allowing for a more defined split between spaces on game days. Guests are greeted outside by a bronze-cast KU “Jayhawk,” the team’s mascot, before heading through a tunnel adorned with striking graphics in KU’s signature blue and red.
Once inside, to honor the rotating functions of the space, the branding assumes a subtle approach versus an overt telling, leaning into the flashiest imagery at the point where the Field Club meets the end zone and transitioning into a more neutral palette further into the conference space.
Positioned between the Field Club and the entrance hall for the Conference Center, a 360-degree bar anchors the two spaces and provides cohesion in the transition from one to the other.
The bar itself is constructed from light stone, contrasted against an illuminated, red, chain mail sculpture that overhangs its entire perimeter. This sculptural canopy is constructed from thousands of small red chains dangling in an airy fringe that responds to changes in airflow and light, subtly referencing the university’s waving wheat motif.
