Tuskegee University has one of the most iconic football stadiums among Historically Black Colleges and Universities – if not anywhere – with its “shed.”
Now, architecture students at the university will have a chance to design their own fictional stadium with the NFL’s assistance.
Tuskegee’s Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science is partnering with the National Football League to design an innovative, state-of-the-art, fictional football stadium. the school announced.
“This is the first time the NFL has utilized architecture and construction science students in this way,” said Walter P. Cooper Sr., director of Tuskegee’s Career Education/Leadership Development Center. “They see the connections between engaging students at the collegiate level and allowing them to explore future career opportunities with the NFL.”
The partnership is a multi-disciplinary initiative that is creating opportunities for students in several schools, the NFL said.
“To conform to the National Architectural Accrediting Board accreditation criteria, we will use this project in the 4th-year and 5th-year architecture studios to design an NFL Stadium in Birmingham,” said Dr. Carla Jackson Bell, dean of the Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science. “For this project, we will target two student criteria – Design and Leadership and Collaboration – during the fall and spring semesters.”
Arthur McAfee III, the NFL’s senior vice president of Football Operations, said the project was developed from discussions around Hall of Famers and their experiences as student athletes.
“To support their institutions, we started doing work with HBCU conferences,” he said. “With football, comes student athletes, the band and players. What’s a better way to continue to highlight on the field activities, than off the field? We have several initiatives where we introduce career opportunities.”
McAfee said typically the NFL works with three or four institutions around the country to answer a particular question. This year, they worked on a question as if they were going to hire people to design a stadium, with a focus on the fan experience, the player experience, architectural design, engineering, construction and a business pitch to sell the project.
“We picked Birmingham because there is no professional team there. The Commanders in D.C. are also looking for a new site,” he said.
“Partnering with organizations like the NFL prepares our students for real-world problem-solving that allows them to use the skills they’ve learned in the classroom in meaningful ways,” said Tuskegee President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris. “I am proud to know that our programs continue to garner the respect and attention of organizations like the NFL in ways that our students see a direct benefit.
“I am looking forward to seeing what they develop.”
