The Texas Construction News staff writer
SAN ANTONIO — Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) has announced three new partners for the San Antonio Spurs’ planned downtown arena and district, tapping a mix of local firms and national sports builders to lead construction and landscape design in the Texas community.
San Antonio-based Bartlett Cocke General Contractors will partner with Mortenson to lead construction management for the new arena. Additionally, San Antonio-based MP Studio has been selected to serve as the local landscape architecture advisor for the district’s master plan.
The additions build on a project team announced earlier this year, aiming to ensure local businesses have a meaningful role in the development, SS&E chief executive officer RC Buford said in a statement.
“We’ve said from the beginning that the people who call San Antonio home should help build what comes next for our city and today is an important step in delivering on that commitment,” Buford said. “Bartlett Cocke and MP Studio bring deep local knowledge, relationships and an understanding of this community, while Mortenson offers exceptional experience building some of the best sports and entertainment venues in the country. Together, they understand what we’re trying to build and why it matters to San Antonio.”
Bartlett Cocke, an employee-owned Texas builder founded in San Antonio in 1959, has spent more than six decades delivering commercial, civic and industrial projects across the state.
“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Spurs arena project,” said James Anderson, chairman and CEO of Bartlett Cocke. “We are honored to partner with Mortenson and the Spurs, while working collaboratively with the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, local leaders, trade partners, and businesses to help deliver a world-class arena. We are proud of the jobs, opportunities, and long-term economic impact this project will create.”
Mortenson, a top 10 U.S. developer and builder, holds an extensive portfolio of major sports and entertainment venues. Its recent construction projects include Chase Center for the Golden State Warriors, Allegiant Stadium for the Las Vegas Raiders and Climate Pledge Arena for the Seattle Kraken.
Logan Gerken, vice-president and general manager of Mortenson Sports + Entertainment, said the partnership with Bartlett Cocke combines specialized sports construction expertise with deep regional roots.
“Beyond creating a world-class home for the Spurs, this project is an opportunity to create lasting economic impact, support local businesses and deliver jobs that San Antonians can take pride in for years to come,” Gerken said.
Working alongside design firm Sasaki, MP Studio will advise on the district’s parks, plazas, streetscapes and public spaces. The local firm’s community-centered approach will focus on urban forestry, water management, resilient landscapes and thermal comfort.
“San Antonio is our home, and it means a great deal to our team to help shape a project of this significance,” Mark V. Padilla, founder of MP Studio, said. “We’re proud to bring a local perspective to the district and help create places that feel unmistakably San Antonio.”
Spurs Sports & Entertainment owns and operates the San Antonio Spurs, Austin Spurs and San Antonio FC, and manages day-to-day operations at several South Texas venues, including the Frost Bank Center.
