Andrew Elmer Joins HDR as Director of Sports and Recreation Architecture
Andrew Elmer, PLA, has joined HDR as director of sports and recreation for architecture. Based in HDR’s Kansas City, Missouri, architecture studio, Elmer will leverage his 16 years of experience to grow the firm’s sports and recreation design practice and complement a team of multidisciplinary architects, interior designers, planners and engineers.
“Having dedicated his career exclusively to athletic facility design, Andrew understands the positive impact quality design and access to recreation can have on individuals, teams and communities,” said Matt DeBoer, director of community architecture, HDR. “Andrew’s passion and enthusiasm for sports architecture and his team-first mentality are truly impressive, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome him to HDR.”
Elmer brings higher education and athletic facilities master planning experience from his recent experience as regional leader of sports, recreation, and entertainment at HOK and previous roles at HNTB and Populous. His project management and design leadership experience ranges from sports facility planning, programming, and design for university architects, planners, facility managers, and athletic administrators, with recently completed masterplans, renovations and designs for sport-specific stadiums, arenas and playing fields at the University of Mississippi, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and The Ohio State University.
“Expanding a sports and recreation architecture practice with the support of a global design team is a once-in-a-career opportunity,” Elmer said. “Having learned from some of the best in the industry and reflecting on lessons I’ve learned in my career, I’m looking forward to building a team and mentoring the next generation to grow HDR’s already impressive portfolio of sports and recreation projects.”
A Kansas City native and active member of design and sports communities, Elmer has contributed bylined articles to Athletic Business and regional publications and speaks at national conferences and industry events.
