RFU Confirms Appointment of Populous as Architect and Lead Designer for Allianz Stadium Masterplan Project

Twickenham has been the home of England Rugby for over 100 years. In this time, the game has become an essential part of the fabric of the country and visiting Allianz Stadium is a highlight of many people’s year.

As the governing body for rugby union in England, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) is dedicated to enriching lives by introducing more people to rugby union and developing the sport for future generations. All profit generated is reinvested into the game to support its growth at all levels, through community programmes and investment into player development, professional clubs, community clubs, and the England national teams. Like all businesses, they face financial pressures from economic challenges, rising costs, and the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these challenges lie in how they maximise and invest in their biggest asset, Allianz Stadium, which generates around 85% of their revenues.

The Stadium Masterplan Project has been established to support the RFU to develop a vision and multi-year plan for the future that looks at how the stadium can maintain its reputation as a world-class entertainment venue for sports and concerts, and in turn generate more income, all while becoming an asset that local communities can be proud of.

Populous (in its former entity as Lobb Partners) designed the former South Stand at Twickenham – with its iconic curved-arch roof – that stood from 1991 to 2005.

Other rugby stadiums the practice has designed globally include Principality Stadium in Cardiff; Aviva Stadium, Dublin; Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane; Accor Stadium (Stadium Australia), Sydney; Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin: Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong; and The New Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium in Tokyo.

The full consultant team for Stadium Masterplan Project, RIBA Stage 2 is: