The AJ100 practice has worked with Denver-based sports consultancy CAA ICON on the designs for a new 45,000m² stadium and masterplan, which it said was rooted in Jamaican culture, heritage and sporting excellence.
The Jamaica Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES) commissioned the work in 2024.
Initial feasibility studies concluded that a new, purpose-built facility was essential to realise Jamaica’s long-term ambitions, the architects said. The stadium’s existing west grandstand will be retained while the rest of the facility is transformed.
The stadium, in Kingston, will have a capacity of 37,500 seats and is designed to meet FIFA and World Athletics standards. It will also feature a nine-lane athletics track, two fan zones, premium hospitality lounges, and a fan boulevard, while accommodating up to 50,000 people for concerts and other entertainment events.
The facility, which has been nicknamed The Office, opened in 1966 for the Commonwealth Games. Four years earlier, the park had been the site of Jamaica’s green, yellow and black national flag being raised for the first time.
Stakeholders contributing to the new stadium vision include community representatives, delivery partners and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), to create a masterplan that its backers say will rival some of the best sporting facilities in the world.
Ryder project director and principal Jonathan Seebacher said: ‘The new stadium, defined by its striking roof design, will have the flexibility to host world-class concerts and major international events. The wider masterplan will create a dynamic civic destination where sport, culture, and community come together for residents and visitors alike.’
The existing training stadium within the park will also be retained and upgraded, with stronger connections to the surrounding public realm.
‘Together, the redevelopment will position Independence Park to support Jamaica’s ambitions on the global stage, including its FIFA Women’s World Cup 2031 bid,’ Seebacher added.
Indicative designs were previously released last year, featuring a slightly different roof.
Other members of the design team include Buro Happold, Turner & Townsend and Oxford Economics.
The project is being supported by government agency UK Export Finance, which is underwriting its build.
The deputy British high commissioner to Jamaica, Jonathan Cook, said: ‘The UK is pleased to support this work through trusted partnerships that bring international expertise, strong governance and a focus on long-term sustainability, as the project moves through Jamaica’s established approval processes.’
The work is due to start on site next summer.
Ryder Architecture designs for Independence Park, Kingston, July 2026. Throws area looking towards Sports Hall and National Stadium
Source: Ryder Architecture