Nationally recognised arena and major venues specialist, Josh Neil, recently guest lectured at The University of Queensland where he delivered ‘Stadiums 101’ to a theatre full of fourth year civil engineering students.

In this article – originally published on LinkedIn – Josh shares his expertise on designing world-class stadiums and reflected on the responsibility engineers have to pass knowledge on to future leaders.

Brisbane 2032 Olympics isn’t just a two-week event – it’s a generational opportunity to reimagine infrastructure that inspires, connects, and endures.

It’s also a chance to cultivate the next generation of engineers. As practised experts, it’s our collective obligation to contribute to the development of Queensland’s – and Australia’s – engineering workforce through Olympic project delivery and education initiatives. That’s why I was energised and humbled to speak about stadium design with 4th Year UQ Civil Engineering students this week.

Having worked on projects like the Brisbane Cricket Ground (the Gabba) redevelopment and Brisbane Lions – Brighton Homes Arena, I’ve seen firsthand how these spaces impact cities and communities. Projects like the Brighton Homes Arena have taught me that sports infrastructure is about more than meets the eye – honouring history, enhancing connection, and championing inclusivity are as important as delivering efficient, innovative engineering.

Designing efficiently and safely, with buildability front-of-mind, is something my team and I don’t take lightly – because our decisions shape how people experience these places for decades. Stadiums and sports infrastructure aren’t just about scale or spectacle. They’re about longevity, adaptability, enhancing communities, and creating legacies that serve a city for generations.

Delivering a stadium successfully means understanding more than just the design. There are the technical elements – how each component connects, from deep foundation piling through to long-span roof systems. There are the relationship dynamics -integrated design teams with different disciplines and perspectives that rely on clear communication and effective processes. And there are external factors – the realities of supply chains, procurement, material availability, and how potential challenges are addressed from the outset. Experience in these circles means a lot.

As an example, the Brighton Homes Arena project had challenging ground conditions to work with. Our proposed solution, whilst entirely logical, exceeded budget, so we teamed up with the geotechnical engineers to achieve a solution that not only worked financially but also to performance standards. Working hand in hand with the Architect and Builder we also adapted our learned stadium design approach and materials palette to this project, to materials and methodologies that the builder was more familiar with, enabling a broader array of trades, again to achieve budget competitiveness and efficiencies.

Thanks to UQ for the chance to connect with such engaged students. These conversations remind me that our work is about more than structures – it’s about shaping future leaders, communities, and the moments that bring us together. They’re part of the responsibility we have as engineers to share knowledge, mentor, and encourage. Conversations that shape the future of inclusive, community-focused sporting infrastructure are an investment not only in Australia’s sporting landscape, but in Australia’s greater prosperity.

At Northrop, we draw on our 50 years of experience to design places that bring people together, celebrate achievement, and build treasured memories. If you’re ready to be part of shaping places that last generations, join us. Visit the Careers page to learn how.