Michael Wekesser | Personal Portfolio - Gensler

Michael Wekesser | Personal Portfolio 

Target Field completed by Populous; Michael Wekesser, Project Designer 

Photo Source: Ben Krause Photography

Michael Wekesser 

Lead Project Designer 

A leader in sports architecture, Michael 

is known for taking on complex design 

challenges and developing creative, 

unique and innovative solutions, from 

master planning to programming to 

design, delineation, and construction. 

In addition to being responsible for 

overall design, Michael oversees each 

project’s site, landscaping, interior 

finishes, and graphics. His involvement 

during the construction documentation 

and administration phases ensures that 

the design intent is implemented. 

+1 (213) 327-3799 

michael_wekesser@gensler.com » 

Project Work 

Featured Projects Additional Projects 

Target Field, Populous 

Target Field Renovations, Gensler 

Petco Park, Populous 

Citizens Bank Park, Populous 

Wrigley Field Bud Light Bleachers 

Renovation, Populous 

Wrigley Field Triangle Building, Populous 

Philips Arena, Populous 

Busch Stadium, Populous 

Integris Health Oklahoma Thunder 

Development Center, Populous 

IZOD Center Renovation and 

Expansion, Populous 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards 

Renovation Study, Populous 

Trustmark Park, Populous 

Air Canada Center, Populous 

Pepsi Center, Populous 

University of Calif., Riverside, Bookstore 

and Student Commons, Hope Design Group 

Jack Murphy Stadium, Hope Design Group 

Cuyamaca College Gymnasium and 

Fitness Center, Hope Design Group 

Click here to review Gensler’s current portfolio of sports and recreation projects »

Michael Wekesser Personal Portfolio 

© Michael Wekesser 


Target Field 

Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. 

Project completed by Populous. 

Michael Wekesser, Project Designer. 

Target Field is often called the most modern 

ballpark in Major League Baseball and was 

named Sports Facility of the Year by the 

SportsBusiness Journal in 2011. Located in 

downtown Minneapolis, this urban facility 

sits next to the existing Target Center and the 

historic Butler Square warehouse, giving fans 

direct access to the Hiawatha light rail line 

and the Northstar commuter train station. 

The design glorifies Minnesota’s forests, lakes, 

and granite cliffs, marking a 180-degree turn 

from the retro brick-and-steel ballparks of the 

past. Fans move underneath peninsulas of 

glass and metal projecting from the building’s 

stone façade. The sunscreen, a tapered, 

sculpted metal-clad shade canopy with field 

lights concealed within, gently rests like a 

cloud above the 40,000 capacity seating 

bowl and its sunset views of the city skyline. 

The 54 luxury suites, each named for 

a Minnesota lake, are modeled after 

Scandinavian lofts. The club level seats 

7,000 fans in custom-designed wood back 

chairs. The exclusive Metropolitan Club 

restaurant, themed around past Minnesota 

iconic ballparks, serves as a lounge for 

season ticket holders with outdoor seating 

decks offering panoramic views of the 

game and downtown Minneapolis.


© Gensler 

© Gensler 

Target Field - Outfield Renovations 

05.8287.000 

Proposed Additional Video Board 

or Ad Panels Above Roof Canopy 

Elevator Overrun Beyond 

Free Standing Bar of Party Deck 

Proposed Drink Rail 

Project #1 - Party Deck at Grandstand Seating Section 

+/- 25’-0” 

Service Corridor 

January 31, 2012 

Concession 

3rd Avenue On-Ramp 

Family Toilet 

1 

BUILDING SECTION AT GRANDSTAND PARTY DECK 

0 8 16 32 64 

+/- 12’-0” 

Existing “B” Ramp 

Parking Garage 

Top of Canopy 

894’ - 10” 

Proposed Party Deck Level at Row #8 

882’ - 10” 

Grandstand Concourse 

866’ - 10” 

Main Concourse Level 

854’ - 9” 

Service Level 

826’ - 0” 

Target Field Renovations 

Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. 

Project completed by Gensler. 

Michael Wekesser, Lead Project Designer. 

Gensler provided the Minnesota Twins 

conceptual design studies for three 

renovation projects to Target Field. The 

Twins’ goal is to explore inventive ways 

to improve the fan experience while 

extending the ballpark’s revenue potential. 

The proposed project includes an elevated 

Sky Deck that replaces a section of the 

outfield grandstand seating with a large 

group gathering space equipped with a 

signature bar, drink rails, and casual seating. 

A roof canopy provides shade and locations 

for additional video boards and ID signage. 

A larger and improved outfield standing 

platform enables fans to watch the game 

while having views onto Target Plaza below. 

A new outfield retail store is also envisioned 

under this new platform. And the existing 

outfield bleacher seats is reconfigured into 

a unique multi-terraced standing platform 

with drink rails to provide fans a personal 

space where they can watch the game.


Source: cookandsonbats.mlblogs.com 

Source: Flickr user thegordons 

Petco Park 

San Diego, California, U.S.A. 



Since its opening in 2004, Petco Park has 

been an economic catalyst for downtown 

San Diego. Located a few blocks from the 

thriving Gaslamp Quarter, the exterior of 

the park features exposed steel painted 

white to evoke the cruise ships that frequent 

San Diego Bay. Sandstone and stucco-clad 

Garden Buildings that house concessions, 

offices, and clubs spaces are pulled away 

from the seating bowl, creating valleys for 

sunlight to enter the outdoor concourses. 

The Garden Buildings recall the natural 

stone cliffs that overlook the Pacific coast. 

The mild climate of Southern California 

allows for lush landscaping that spills out 

of the terraces and decorates the ballpark. 

The Park at the Park, a landscaped public 

park bordering the ballpark, Is wrapped 

with retail shops, hotels, and condominium 

towers. The park also features a grassy 

Picnic Hill where fans can watch the game 

in the sun and catch a homerun ball. 

The 100-year-old historic Western Metal 

Supply Building, an existing building on 

the site, was renovated and incorporated 

into the ballpark. The ballpark has a 

total seating capacity of 42,445 seats, 

and the 6,000 seat club concourse 

is shared with 35 luxury suites.





Citizens Bank Park 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. 



Citizens Bank Park is rooted in the great 

Philadelphia sports architecture stadiums 

of the past, while offering a contemporary 

twist on historic themes. Its layout 

imitates the original plan of the city of 

Philadelphia with four cardinal entry plazas 

representing the original four city parks. 

With its arcade fronts, squared arched 

openings and glass entry towers, Citizens 

Park looks forward but keeps the traditions 

of past. The park’s red brick, red stone and 

red steel can be found in many historic and 

modern buildings throughout Philadelphia. 

The ballpark seats 43,650 fans in a unique 

faceted seating bowl. There are also a total 

of 70 suites, all located between the foul 

poles. The Hall-of-Fame Club level seats 

6,210 fans and features an indoor club 

lounge with field views. Ashburn Alley, a 

50,000-square-foot outfield entertainment 

area named for the Phillies’ legend Richie 

Ashburn, has a team store and varieties 

of food and beverage options. Located 

just above the bleachers is the 50-foot 

tall Liberty Bell Home Run Spectacular, a 

neon Liberty Bell that swings, rings and 

lights up after every Phillies home run.



Wrigley Field, Bud Light 

Bleachers Expansion 

Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. 



Opening in April of 2006, the Cubs enhanced 

the Wrigley Field experience inside and 

out by remodeling the existing outfield 

bleacher seating. The Bleacher Bums received 

an additional 1,790 new seats without 

changing the original ivy-covered outfield 

walls. The new design replicates the ivycovered 

wall on the bleacher exterior and 

adds an opening where pedestrians can 

look into the park from Sheffield Avenue. 

The bleacher entry was also expanded 

with the addition of decorative metal 

gates. New amenities such as concessions, 

toilets, additional exits and an elevator 

were also added. The cross aisle at the rear 

of the bleachers enhances views of the 

surrounding neighborhood, while at the 

same time allowing fans to circulate from 

the main concourse and to the bleachers. 

The new Bud Light Bleachers maintain 

the integrity, character, and charm that 

define Wrigley Field, while achieving a new 

classic look for the ballpark’s exterior.


© Cherepak Arts 

© Cherepak Arts 

Wrigley Field, Triangle 

Building Addition 

Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. 

Project proposed by Populous. 


The new Triangle Building is the first 

major proposed addition to Wrigley Field 

since its conception in 1914. The new 

addition does not attempt to copy the 

existing façade, but creates a forwardlooking 

architectural language that is in 

harmony with the subdued, classic, and 

gritty nature of this iconic ballpark. 

At street level, the facility houses a mixture 

of retail stores and restaurants. Seminary 

Avenue, a 50-foot alleyway between Wrigley 

and the free-standing Triangle Building, is the 

site for pre-game action and will be a part of 

the ballpark during game time. During nonevent 

times, Seminary is envisioned as an 

open street for daily pedestrian activities. 

The whole building is 331,000 square 

feet with seven levels that include 400 

parking stalls for both players and staff. 

The remaining levels house the Cubs’ 

administration offices, players’ facilities, and 

restaurants and bars. A third-level pedestrian 

bridge connects the Triangle Building to the 

ballpark, and allows fans to circulate back and 

forth from their seats while providing limited 

views of the action on the field. The roof 

deck is also connected back to the ballpark; 

with an elevated pedestrian bridge, this 

level features outdoor dining, concessions, 

and open space for special events.




Philips Arena 

Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. 



Home of the Atlanta Hawks basketball team 

and a venue for major entertainment events, 

Philips Arena is the centerpiece of a 25-acre 

development in downtown Atlanta. The 

facility connects to the CNN Center via the 

Hawk Walk, a 350-foot long public walk that 

doubles as the arena’s main concourse and 

provides a pedestrian corridor between the 

CNN Center and the MARTA rail station. 

The arena’s one-of-a-kind seating diverges 

from the traditional 360-degree seating bowl. 

All 96 luxury suites are located on one side 

of the bowl, creating a more intimate setting 

by pushing all fans closer to the action. The 

club section holds 1,894 fans with all of these 

seats located in the lower seating deck. Just 

behind the club seats is the Center Club—a 

large opening carved into the wall of suites 

and allows all suite holders a common public 

balcony with views to the court below. 

Philips Arena’s unique exterior is wrapped 

in glass, metal panel, and stone and 

features four overlapping and curved 

roof elements. The floating roofs look 

like razor-sharp playing cards layered and 

bent over one another. The lowest roof 

element shelters a monumental entrance 

porch supported by angled and folded 

metal columns that spell out the word 

ATLANTA in gigantic, heroic letters.




Busch Stadium 

St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. 



The architecture of Busch Stadium is replete 

with classical and historical references of St. 

Louis. Arched masonry openings and warm 

colors recall the historic Wainright building 

located just blocks from the ballpark. Black 

painted steel entry arches between masonry 

towers evoke the imagery of the Eads Bridge, 

one of the city’s most enduring landmarks. . 

Located in downtown St Louis, Busch 

Stadium gives 46,000 fans dazzling views of 

the St. Louis skyline and the iconic Gateway 

Arch. The majority of the suites are located 

behind home plate and between the first 

and second base pads. On the first and 

third baselines, additional suites and extralarge 

party lofts offer flexible indoor bar-like 

seating with great views of the action on 

the field. This club level seats 11,207 fans 

on an exclusive outdoor seating deck that 

runs between the first base and third bases. 

Also at this level is the Bank of America 

Club, a free-standing indoor private bar/ 

lounge reserved for premium Cardinal fans. 

Located in the outfield is the open air Ford 

Plaza with the US Cellular Family Pavilion. 

This brick-paved and fan-friendly concourse 

offers a variety of entertainment and food 

options, as well as a separate stage with table 

seating. There are batting cages, pitching 

machines, and other games for all ages.

Michael Wekesser 

Gensler Los Angeles 

500 S. Figueroa Street 

Los Angeles, CA 90071 

www.gensler.com/sports » 

+1 (213) 327-3799 

michael_wekesser@gensler.com »

Michael Wekesser | Personal Portfolio - Gensler

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