Stadia as drivers of social and environmental sustainability 

Moderator: Agustín Garcia Puga, Architect, Argentina

Stadiums and arenas are evolving into versatile, sustainable, and socially engaged urban anchors. A vision of stadiums as everyday community hubs will be presented, while strategies for revitalizing historic football venues balance modern requirements with legacy preservation. Regenerative design approaches are highlighted that integrate blue and green infrastructure, enhancing urban ecosystems and climate resilience. Together, the talks show how thoughtful design and refurbishment can transform sports venues into inclusive, resilient, and environmentally responsible spaces that strengthen neighborhoods, enrich communities, and meet the changing needs of both fans and citizens.

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On the panel

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Jack is a researcher and placemaking strategist, and the founder of Future Places Studio (FPS), who develop strategies and future place visions through research and insight. Jack also leads Sport+, part of FPS, who work on scaling the social and economic value of sports led projects. His experience includes London Olympic Park, West Ham FC, Newmarket Racecourse and Plymouth Argyle FC.

Jack Sallabank
Founder and Director, Sport+/Future Places Studio, United Kingdom

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Jonathan has a wealth of experience across sport, leisure, masterplanning and residential sectors. He is the sector lead for sport and is a champion for sustainable urban mixed used developments. Jonathan leads the international portfolio and is a board member for Okana, a global built environment consultancy. His experience includes projects with Newcastle United FC, Durham CCC, St Georges Park and Independence Park, Jamaica.

Jonathan Seebacher
Partner, Ryder Architecture, United Kingdom

Portrait of a man

Vice President of IAKS and a Senior Principal at Populous in London, Tom specializes in designing sports and entertainment venues that enhance cities and communities. His major projects include Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Emirates Stadium, the London 2012 Olympic Stadium. Contributed to the FIFA Stadium Guidelines and co-author of the Metric Handbook.

Tom Jones
Senior Principal, Populous, United Kingdom

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Clara is an architect with over a decade of international experience in sustainable design. She has worked on major stadia projects like New Camp Nou, La Nueva Romareda, and the Tigres Stadium Competition. Her expertise includes building physics, sustainability certifications, and regenerative design for climate resilience and urban wellbeing.

Clara Guzmán Colombo
Sustainable Design Architect, IDOM, Spain

Sport and the city: stadiums
Jack Sallabank, Founder and Director Sport+/Future Places Studio, United Kingdom, 
Jonathan Seebacher, Partner, Ryder Architecture, United Kingdom
This presentation highlights why sports stadiums should be versatile and integrated placemaking anchors which activate and enliven local neighbourhoods every day. Stadiums need to have an inclusive and engaging relationship with their surrounding urban context as they become hubs of community activity. We present a high-level strategic vision for this approach to guide and inspire architects, developers, municipalities and stadium owners.

Stadium 2.0 – breathing new life into old stadiums
Tom Jones, Senior Principal, Populous, United Kingdom
The presentation will look at the challenges and opportunities for redeveloping historic football stadiums, including the importance of retaining club history and legacy in these developments, as well as responding to the requirements of modern football fans. It will show how new trends in stadium design can be incorporated into a refurbishment of old stadiums, while improving the sustainability credentials of these venues.

Regenerative design in stadia and arenas integrating blue and green urban infrastructure strategies
Clara Guzmán Colombo, Sustainable Design Architect, IDOM, Spain
The integration of regenerative design principles at early design stages of stadium and arenapositions Blue and Green Urban Infrastructure as foundational strategies. These venues become agents of ecological restoration, climate resilience, and social well-being. Through case studies and frameworks, this presentation explores interdisciplinary collaboration, performance metrics, and nature-based solutions that actively enhance urban ecosystems and reduce environmental impact.