Al Harris

A singular focus guides Al Harris everywhere his more than two-decade career has taken him worldwide: the drafting table, campus, conference room, project site, game day sidelines or owner’s suite: community.

To Al, community isn’t an optional enhancement, something to strive for as a creative vision emerges or hope that it endures long after the project concludes. For Al, community is an imperative that only thrives amid intention and authenticity. He understands that community exists in a variety of ways, starting with the design teams on each of the 30+ civic, professional and collegiate facility projects he’s managed, to the diverse array of people he helps unite once a venue is complete. Al embodies the mission of Populous — designing places that draw people together — ensuring that every project detail is designed for lasting appeal, impact and, most importantly, connection.

Over 20 years, those projects have spanned typologies across the globe, including key renovations at Soldier Field and MetLife Stadium helped improve the experience not just for NFL fans, but also for the hundreds of thousands of fans who flock to each stadium for blockbuster concerts. Al has — and continues to be — on the forefront of innovation on projects like Doha’s Qatar Convention Center, celebrated as one of the largest and most technologically advanced convention venues in the region and a project that introduced more opportunities for global work. Closer to home, Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, Calif., features an indoor-outdoor layout that makes hockey possible in the desert and also celebrates Palm Spring’s reputation as a can’t-miss concert stop. Al’s visionary expertise made him a crucial leader on a host of transformative projects at Vanderbilt University, beginning with an athletics-focused master plan and continuing with the construction of basketball training facility, the Huber Center, and the reimagining of FirstBank Stadium’s South End Zone. It’s an easy claim to make, but Al’s portfolio is the proof point: with Populous, he’s done it all. And he’s not finished yet!

Al’s design-forward, community-focused thinking has earned him a proven reputation as a trusted advisor and empathetic leader. He’s equally invested in fostering and nurturing community within the architectural industry, especially among young professionals. Attending a career fair as a high school student inspired Al to pursue architecture, so the path from aspiring to successful architect is one that Al knows well. In 2018, Al helped charter the Kansas City chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), further expanding the organization’s reach and potential impact as part of a mission to “foster justice and equity in communities of color through outreach, community advocacy, professional development and design excellence.”

Al’s demonstrated expertise in and passion for community-building has been especially beneficial as Populous grows at a rapid rate through hiring, acquisitions and increased global offices. Al launched POP Together in 2019, a multifaceted initiative that prioritizes equitable access to opportunity, education, growth and wellness for Populous employees worldwide. Creating and nurturing community from the inside out is the most effective way that Al has demonstrated his skills and expertise, a real-life success story that’s far from being finished.