Global design firm Populous has announced the opening of a new office in Atlanta, marking its 16th location across the Americas and 35th worldwide. The move expands the practice’s footprint in the southeastern United States and strengthens its capabilities across convention centre and sports facility design, urban design and landscape architecture.
The Atlanta office will be led by industry veterans Rob Svedberg and Lee Pollock. Svedberg brings more than three decades of experience, with over $6bn in completed projects spanning convention centres, sports and live entertainment venues. His portfolio includes work on the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Raleigh Convention Center and the Javits Center. At Populous, he will support the firm’s convention centre practice.
Pollock joins as Senior Urban Designer, contributing 30 years of experience in large-scale masterplanning and real estate development strategy for private sector and civic clients. Additional hires include Real Estate Strategy Director Jonathan Bartlett, Senior Landscape Architect Matt Friesen and Landscape Architect Meredith Mejia, who will be based in Dallas. Collectively, the Atlanta team brings more than 110 years of combined global design expertise, according to the firm.
Located in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, within walking distance of the BeltLine and Ponce City Market, the new office places the firm within a district recognised for its cultural and civic significance.
The office opening builds on Populous’ longstanding engagement in the Southeast, dating back to its involvement in the 1996 Olympic Games. The firm’s regional portfolio includes Truist Park, McCamish Pavilion and Synovus Park, alongside ongoing work at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Mobile Arena and the University of South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium.
The expansion follows Populous’ January 2026 launch of a dedicated Real Estate Strategy service across its Americas offices. The initiative, led by Cary Hirschstein as the firm’s first Head of Real Estate Strategy, formalised an integrated advisory capability focused on mixed-use districts anchored by sports, entertainment and civic venues.
Together, the Atlanta opening and the launch of the Real Estate Strategy service signal continued organisational growth across the Americas, as Populous consolidates expertise in venue design, urban planning and district-scale development.
