Assembly Hall renovation: Kansas City architects in an arena showdown

As the epicenter of sports architecture, KC companies are often rivals for projects worldwide. Here, a behind-the scenes look as two top firms vie to renovate the University of Illinois' Assembly Hall.

"For Illinois, it's a once-in-a-lifetime project," Niemuth says. "If you put yourself in their shoes, they want to be inspired. If I'm an athletic director, this might be the thing that culminates my career."

Niemuth and his team walked into the convention room, turned off the lights and hit play on a two-minute, 30-second video that would set the table for the whole three-hour interview session. "How You Like Me Now" by the Heavy, a jazzy tune, blared from the speakers as AECom simulated a walking tour of the inside of the renovated arena.

The camera passed by fans sitting in comfy chairs and sofas in the enlarged concourse and zoomed into the club seating area, where hypothetical donors leisurely watched the Fighting Illini.

kansascity.com