He joins Jon Niemuth, AIA, as a design director in the firm’s Kansas City sports practice. For the past year, Poulson has been helping run his family’s farm operation in Nebraska. He left Ellerbe Becket in 2002 and spent two years with Seattle architectural firm BJSS before moving to Nebraska.

Poulson spent 13 years with Ellerbe Becket as one of its top designers. He did two projects for Paul Allen of Microsoft fame: The Rose Garden in Portland (home of the NBA Trailblazers) and Qwest Field in Seattle (home of the NFL Seahawks)

“We’re delighted to have James back,” said Bill Crockett, Ellerbe Becket’s national director of sports. “He’s surrounded by friends and colleagues that together have created some of the world’s most memorable sports and entertainment facilities.”

The feeling is mutual. “I’m excited to be here,” said Poulson. “Ellerbe Becket is an international company with a completely different way of looking at issues and projects. They’re interested in the bigger picture of where our industry is going and what markets are evolving and growing.”

For Poulson, the desire to innovate is as strong as ever. ’We’ve seen the market evolve from large-scale professional projects to civic arenas and collegiate renovations,” he said. “Now the whole idea that there might be another niche model that combines healthcare and sports is an exciting prospect.” Ellerbe Becket is recognized globally as a leading designer of healthcare and sports projects.

Poulson and Niemuth are focusing on quality. “We don’t have to do every arena or stadium out there,” said Poulson, ’But the ones we design should be recognized as the best.”

He holds bachelor and master of architecture degrees from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

An innovator since its founding in 1909, Ellerbe Becket is a leader in architecture, engineering and the construction industry with office locations worldwide.

Contact: news@ellerbebecket.com