Turner Construction Company takes on bold builds in metro Kansas City

Beyond a stadium

David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium

After a longstanding history of turning construction blueprints into a reality for the University of Kansas, including Allen Fieldhouse — one of college basketball’s most legendary venues — Turner Construction Company was selected once again by the university to lead the renovation of the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

The scope of this project went far beyond just a stadium. The goal was to create a new standard for KU Athletics - featuring a new entrance to campus and the largest conference center in Lawrence, Kansas.

For the stadium itself, Turner managed the demolition and rebuild of the west and north seating bowls to pull fans closer to the game and add new premium spaces. Turner installed a state-of-the-art scoreboard, upgraded sound and technology systems, and expanded concourses with modern concessions and beverage stations.

Simultaneously, they renovated and added to the Anderson Family Football Complex (AFFC), which now includes upgraded training, recovery and team rooms. This work creates a direct impact for student athletes in their day-to-day activities and helps prepare them for success on the field.

“Our relationship with KU is a partnership built on trust and past operational success,” said Jason Brown, project executive. “Turner has been on this campus for decades, completing everything from sports facilities to educational buildings to scholarship halls and beyond.”

WORKING TOWARD A WIN

“When you’ve been part of preserving and modernizing a place that means so much to Jayhawk tradition, you gain a deep understanding of what KU values,” Brown said.

That same commitment carried over to the stadium project. KU knows that Turner delivers on the vision and brings the resources of a national builder with the dedication of a local team.

The collaboration between KU, the design team, Turner, the trade partners, and the Lawrence community is what made this project a success. Everyone worked toward one goal: Delivering a new stadium and entrance to the campus that matches the pride and tradition of the University of Kansas.

“What we’ve built together isn’t just a football stadium; it’s a statement about KU’s vision,” Brown added. “It’s something that will impact recruiting, fan experience and the entire Lawrence community for generations.”

BEATING THE CLOCK

One of the biggest challenges Turner faced was the tight schedule.

“We had 18 months to safely create a corner of campus that all [parties] associated with the project could be proud of and also have it game-day ready by August 2025,” noted Brown.

That meant working seven days a week, sequencing trades down to the hour, working hand-in-hand with HNTB and Multistudio to make decisions quickly, and leaning on prefabrication opportunities wherever possible.

One of the most critical processes Turner implemented to streamline construction was strategic sequencing to minimize interruption to parking and students’ ability to successfully continue their education without disruption.

“We erected structural steel during the day and then brought in the precast concrete crews at night,” Brown explained. “That 24-hour cycle kept progress moving constantly, kept both activities safe and allowed us to hit the aggressive timeline.”

Turner worked with Henderson Engineers to design and choose large mechanical and electrical equipment in advance. Using their SourceBlue Group, they procured material from national equipment vendors to make all equipment available for installation early in the project. This eliminated the wait for large equipment and spending project dollars on complicated temporary systems.

GETTING CLOSER TO THE ACTION

For fans, one of the biggest changes is how much closer they feel to the action. The redesigned upper bowl was pulled in significantly, so even from the top row spectators experience the feeling of being part of the action on the field.

“There truly isn’t a bad seat in the whole stadium, which was one of KU’s goals,” Brown said.

The new design also adds updated concessions and beverage stations throughout the concourses, so grabbing food and drinks is a quicker process. The renovation and addition to Anderson Family Football Complex means KU is now the only college football program in the country with a team room that looks directly out onto the field: A game-changer for recruiting purposes.

The facilities received major upgrades across the board, from training and recovery spaces to expanded premium seating and clubs. With the addition of the conference center, it isn’t just a football stadium anymore; it’s a year-round facility designed for events, conferences, gatherings and recruiting.

For the university, it’s about more than game day. It’s about creating a year-round destination that will be impactful for players, fans and the broader community. These additions, along with the new conference center, create the Gateway District that will serve KU, its athletes and the Lawrence community for decades to come.

“One of the wins we’re most proud of is seeing the football team practice in the new stadium, and soon we’ll be celebrating with the entire Lawrence community as KU football kicks off the season in their new home,” Brown said before the first home game took place.

Paradise in the Midwest

Margaritaville Hotel

An escape to paradise doesn’t have to come with a passport and a flight now that Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City has opened its doors. To bring this island-inspired getaway to the Midwest, Turner Construction Company led the full structural and architectural construction of the six-story, 238-room Margaritaville Hotel and the adjacent two-story amenity building.

This included all core and shell work, as well as the complete buildout of key hospitality and entertainment spaces. Within the amenity building, the Turner team built 14,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting space, the Landshark Bar & Grill, the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar, a Ninja Cross Obstacle Course and climbing wall, outdoor pools including a slide and tropical paradise theme, and the Fin City Family Entertainment Center.

They managed construction from foundations through final finishes, coordinating across trades to ensure timely and high-quality delivery.

TURNING A VISION INTO REALITY

“Turner played a key role in transforming the vision of Margaritaville into a reality right here in the Midwest,” said Turner Project Superintendent Clancy Merrill. “Our team coordinated everything from the structural work to the intricate finishes that give the hotel its tropical character.”

From preconstruction, Turner was able to understand and prioritize the desired guest experience for this hotel — something the Margaritaville brand is known for. Turner worked closely with designers and trade partners to ensure the tropical-inspired details, from the layout of the pools to the finishes and atmosphere in the restaurants, came together seamlessly.

“One of the key challenges we faced was balancing labor availability, as this project was executed during a time of high construction demand in the Kansas City region,” Merrill said. “Despite limited manpower, our team remained focused on execution, working strategically with trade partners and adjusting sequencing to maintain momentum.”

LEANING IN

To help streamline construction and maintain efficiency on a complex, fast-paced project like the Margaritaville Hotel, Turner implemented their Lean building principles and leveraged Takt planning for their scheduling strategy. This approach allowed for improved coordination across trades, reduced downtime between activities and provided greater consistency in workflow throughout the site. The project was also recognized as a Turner Lean Go & See project, an internal accolade that highlights exemplary use of lean practices in the field. This designation reflects the team’s commitment to continuous improvement, collaboration and delivering value through efficient, well-organized execution.

The Margaritaville project brought together a diverse group of companies and organizations from across the Midwest, showcasing the remarkable outcomes that can be achieved through collaboration, resilience and a shared commitment to a common goal.

CREATING A STANDOUT DESTINATION

Turner’s collaborative approach, strong relationships with trade partners, and focus on quality and safety ensured the project stayed on schedule and aligned with the Margaritaville brand’s vision.

“A notable success was our ability to maintain quality and schedule under these conditions, while also meeting the expectations of multiple stakeholders. The result is a standout destination that reflects the spirit of the Margaritaville brand and adds lasting value to the community,” Merrill said.

Margaritaville Hotel will be an anchor for economic and cultural growth in Kansas City, Kansas. It brings long-term benefits through job creation, tourism and increased activity for surrounding businesses.

Striving for net-zero

Panasonic Electric Vehicle Battery Facility

As part of Panasonic Energy’s investment in the United States to expand electric vehicle (EV) battery production capacity. The company selected Turner along with Yates Construction to build a manufacturing facility for EV batteries in De Soto, Kansas, as part of an overall $4 billion program.

This project created new jobs with competitive wages and will help drive the economy and manufacturing in the De Soto region, and across Kansas and the United States.

The factory is a demonstration of the Panasonic Group’s Green IMPACT initiative, which is aimed at reducing the company’s carbon dioxide emission to virtually net-zero by 2030 and contributing to 300 million tons in avoided emissions by 2050.

The plant began production at the end of March 2025 and will eventually reach approximately 30 GWh of annual production capacity.

SHARING A COMMON GOAL

“We are excited to be part of the team delivering this plant to support Panasonic’s goal to meet the growing demand for high quality batteries from their automotive partners,” said Turner Senior Vice President Jim Brownrigg.

“The team shares a common goal for improving environmental performance and reducing on-site greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption during construction of the facility.”

“We are thrilled to include this facility in our expanding portfolio of projects in this sector,” said Matt Makes, vice president and general manager at Turner. “Even more meaningful is that thousands of people from the greater Kansas City area [constructed] a project with global significance for future generations.”

ACCELERATING ELECTRIFICATION

Panasonic Energy’s high-capacity lithium-ion cells feature an industry-leading volumetric energy density of 800 Wh/L. They have powered approximately 3.7 million EVs, with around 19 billion cells supplied as of March 2025. They set the standard for safety and reliability with no vehicle recalls to date.

Widespread adoption of electric vehicles will help support Panasonic Energy’s commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.

“The opening of our Kansas factory marks a major milestone in our journey to scale advanced battery production in the United States,” Kazuo Tadanobu, CEO of Panasonic Energy, said. “This achievement would not have been possible without the strong support of our local partners and the state of Kansas. Together, we are accelerating the shift to electrification, reinforcing regional supply chains, and nurturing the next generation of battery talent.

This facility represents not only our commitment to the region but also a foundation for long-term collaboration and innovation in the U.S.”