Missouri has chosen an architecture firm to serve as consultant for its Memorial Stadium improvements project, athletics director Desiree Reed-Francois announced on Friday morning.

DLR Group, a Kansas City-based architecture firm, was approved by the University of Missouri Board of Curators during the Finance Committee’s portion of Friday’s board meeting.

DLR’s track record includes improvement projects at Los Angeles Memorial Stadium, the University of Houston’s TDECU Football Stadium and the University of Louisiana’s Cajun Field. DLR Group will next conduct a pre-design study to develop programming plans for a fee not to exceed $400,000.

This is among several other upgrades to the stadium experience.

“The Board of Curators is committed to investing in the progress of Mizzou Football, and the Memorial Stadium Improvement project is an exciting opportunity to capitalize on the success the program has enjoyed in 2023 and the overall momentum Mizzou Athletics has generated,” Mizzou board of curators chair Michael Williams said. “This is a crucial time for loyal fans around the state to support a project that’s integral to Mizzou’s future.”

The project envisions an open-air mixed-use development along the North Concourse area with potential to produce modernized year-round revenue opportunities. The project design will be committed to maintaining stadium views and engagement to the Mizzou campus north of Memorial Stadium while minimizing construction impact onto future football season game-day activities.

Cost estimates will be made during the project. Private donor contributions will fund the renovations, expected to be completed by mid-August 2026.

“As we saw this year, Mizzou football can galvanize our community and alumni, and with these critical improvements to Memorial Stadium, we can further unite our state behind one vision for the future of Mizzou Football,” Mizzou President Mun Y. Choi said. “This stadium project will strengthen the national brand of Mizzou Athletics as we continue building a championship culture at the University of Missouri.”

The improvements include multiple open-air observation decks; a variety of improved and modernized food and beverage concessions; new restrooms; new stadium gateway and gate system; improved wayfinding and graphics; new retail outlets; new football team recruiting room; and the integration of the new enhanced North End Zone videoboard. The Rock M behind the North end zone will be preserved.

Mizzou’s last major stadium project was the $98-million South End Zone project, which included a new operations home for the football team and hospitality areas, was completed in 2019.