HPM to Serve as Program Manager for University of North Alabama’s Bank Independent Stadium
Birmingham-based program management firm HPM will serve as program manager for University of North Alabama new Bank Independent Stadium. The firm will also provide owner’s representation and preconstruction services for the state-of-the-art, multipurpose facility on UNA’s campus. Davis Architects has been selected as the architect of record. The project is in the design phase with targeted completion during the 2026-27 academic year.
About the Facility
The multipurpose stadium will be thoughtfully designed for year-round utilization by UNA and the wider Shoals community. The venue will re-develop the campus space that currently houses the UNA turf field, Mike D. Lane Field and a grass practice field, incorporating UNA’s football, baseball and soccer teams into the re-imagined design. In addition to athletic practices and sporting events, Bank Independent Stadium will also enrich the community with concerts and live performances as well as other academic and community events. The new facility will serve as the new home for the University of North Alabama Lions football team. For over 70 years, the Lions played football at Braly Municipal Stadium, an off-campus facility owned by Florence City Schools.
“The forthcoming Bank Independent Stadium is an exciting addition to our extensive portfolio of sports and recreation projects across the country, and we have seen immense demand for these types of facilities in Alabama as our state’s population continues to grow,” said HPM Vice President of Program Development Ben Henson. “We’re looking forward to working alongside The University of North Alabama to deliver this highly anticipated multipurpose facility, which will serve as a transformative community venue and a catalyst for Florence’s burgeoning growth story.”
Services and Logistics
HPM will work closely with UNA to provide specialized services throughout the entirety of the project. Starting with preconstruction, HPM will oversee budgeting and scheduling, design management, risk assessment and contract negotiation. The program management firm, which has worked on over two million square feet of athletic facility projects, will use its more than 25 years of experience and industry connections in the Southeast to understand the university’s needs effectively and to serve as the official owner’s representative until the project’s completion. After the conclusion of the design phase, which is expected to conclude in 2024, a detailed plan for the stadium with more information about the scope, features and cost will be formulated.
“We are excited about this next step in the process of seeing the Bank Independent Stadium come to like at the University of North Alabama,” said Evan Thornton, UNA CFO and Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs. “HPM and Davis Architects will be tremendous assets to us as we embark on this historic project.”
