Populous acquires Fentress Architects to expand global aviation and civic design portfolio

In a strategic move to deepen its foothold in aviation and public infrastructure design, Kansas City-based architecture firm Populous has acquired Denver’s Fentress Architects, rebranding the studio as Fentress Studios, a Populous Company.

The acquisition, officially announced on June 6, 2025, unites two industry-leading firms with complementary portfolios and design philosophies. While Populous has long been globally recognized for its stadiums, arenas, and large-scale entertainment venues, Fentress Architects brings four decades of experience designing airports, convention centers, museums, and government facilities. The merger is set to significantly expand Populous’ reach into civic and transportation infrastructure, reinforcing its ambition to be a dominant global force in people-centric design.

According to Populous, Fentress Architects will continue to operate out of its current offices in Denver and Washington D.C. under the new name Fentress Studios. The rebranded entity will form a specialized aviation and civic architecture practice within Populous, with both companies aligning on design values, sustainable innovation, and client-focused delivery.

Why did Populous acquire Fentress Architects?

The acquisition of Fentress Architects by Populous is not merely an expansion of portfolio—it is a strategic evolution. Over the past 45 years, Populous has earned renown for creating landmark entertainment venues such as Yankee Stadium in New York, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the Las Vegas Sphere, and Sydney’s International Convention Centre. However, in a rapidly urbanizing and transit-oriented world, Populous has identified aviation and civic infrastructure as critical growth verticals.

Fentress Architects, founded in 1980 by Curt Fentress, has delivered more than $52 billion in iconic architecture. Its aviation work includes signature terminals like the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Denver International Airport, and Incheon International Airport in South Korea. These projects exemplify the firm’s ability to integrate sustainability, regional context, and human-centered design into complex public environments.

Populous Global Chair and CEO Bruce Miller emphasized the transformational potential of the acquisition, stating that the move “symbolizes our dedication to design quality” and will “supercharge our global impact in aviation and transportation.” By combining Fentress’ design depth and client relationships with Populous’ delivery capabilities, the firm aims to position itself as a top-tier contender for large-scale government, airport, and civic projects around the world.

What is Fentress Studios and how will it operate after the merger?

Curt Fentress, the Founder and Principal in Charge of Design at Fentress Architects, noted that both firms share a belief in design as a catalyst for social and economic transformation. He said the decision to integrate with Populous was driven by alignment on creative vision and long-term impact.

“Populous shares our values of design excellence and people-centric thinking,” Fentress said in a statement. “Together, we will continue to redefine great architecture and its capacity to ignite social and economic change through inspired design for people.”

The newly formed Fentress Studios will retain its design leadership and operate semi-independently, allowing the American civic architecture firm to maintain its design identity while gaining global execution support through Populous’ vast infrastructure. This model mirrors Populous’ global approach of maintaining strong regional studios that tailor solutions to local needs while contributing to firm-wide innovation.

How is the industry reacting to the Populous–Fentress merger?

Although financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed, the architecture and infrastructure community has largely welcomed the merger. Industry analysts note that combining two high-profile design firms with minimal overlap allows for efficient integration and new business development without redundancy. Institutional observers expect Populous’ expanded practice to bid more competitively for projects that require multidisciplinary collaboration, especially in fast-growing markets in Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

From an investor or client perspective, the deal strengthens Populous’ offering in segments that demand long-term capital infrastructure design—such as intermodal transit hubs, high-speed rail stations, and national-level civic institutions. Several major government clients, from transportation ministries to airport authorities, have historically favored firms with deep sectoral experience. Fentress’ 40-year track record gives Populous the credentials needed to win such contracts outright or in consortium with other engineering partners.

The announcement also comes at a time when many cities are undergoing post-pandemic infrastructure overhauls—upgrading airports to handle next-gen air traffic, digitizing public buildings, and embedding ESG principles in every stage of development. The synergy between Populous’ sensory, human-scaled experience design and Fentress’ public-sector discipline is being viewed as highly complementary in this new urban design era.

What is the legacy of Fentress Architects in aviation and civic infrastructure?

Fentress Architects has been a pioneer in bringing elegance and sustainability to institutional architecture. Projects like the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia and the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center in Denver exemplify the firm’s blend of civic dignity and contemporary functionality. Its ability to blend contextual architecture with forward-looking innovation has garnered multiple AIA awards and global accolades.

Beyond airports, the firm has been involved in designing diplomatic spaces like the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington D.C. and civic halls that reinforce both governmental transparency and public engagement. This breadth adds another layer to Populous’ traditionally entertainment-heavy design resume.

In aviation, Fentress’ innovations have had lasting industry impact—from open daylight concepts and intuitive wayfinding to sustainable building envelopes that reduce operational emissions. Its terminals are often viewed as cultural portals rather than mere transit infrastructure, a view that aligns seamlessly with Populous’ core brand of emotionally resonant design.

What does the future look like for Populous after acquiring Fentress?

With over 3,500 projects valued at more than $60 billion across its history, Populous is one of the largest design firms globally. The acquisition of Fentress Architects now expands that scale both vertically and horizontally. In addition to its existing hubs in Kansas City, London, and Brisbane, Populous will deepen its North American presence with the inclusion of Denver and Washington D.C. as aviation and civic design centers.

Looking ahead, Populous plans to actively pursue more public-private partnership (PPP) opportunities and large infrastructure frameworks. With nations investing heavily in airport modernization, climate-adaptive buildings, and people-centered mobility hubs, the combined talent of Populous and Fentress Studios is expected to be in high demand.

The firm is also likely to benefit from cross-sector innovation. For example, user engagement learnings from stadiums may influence how public terminals are designed to handle crowd flow and emotional comfort. Conversely, the regulatory and security sensitivities of airport design may elevate standards across Populous’ entertainment and hospitality portfolios.

While it remains to be seen how fully integrated the two teams become in project delivery, what is clear is that Populous is aggressively positioning itself for the future of urban architecture—one that bridges spectacle with substance, aesthetics with access, and entertainment with essential infrastructure.