Populous announced the hiring of international equestrian designer Todd Gralla as a principal and director of equestrian services. Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Gralla, along with Charlie Kolarik, will work alongside Charlie Smith and David Forkner (formerly HOK Smith Forkner) to provide complete master planning and design services for domestic and international fairgrounds and equestrian clients. Gralla will focus on both permanent and temporary equestrian sporting venues, racecourses and training venues, horse parks, polo clubs, private and public equestrian centers and private equine ventures.

"Todd's hiring is a natural maturation of our specialty in providing design services for our equestrian and fairgrounds clients," said Rick Martin, Populous senior principal. "His personal knowledge of horsemanship is evident in his work, and he is excited to expand upon Populous' global leadership in the equestrian design world."

For nearly two decades, he has focused on programming, master planning, design, facility evaluations, market research and feasibility studies on more than 150 equestrian projects around the globe, including the Kentucky Horse Park; the Hong Kong Jockey Club; the Calgary Stampede; the Dongseo, South Korea Racecourse; the Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Racecourse and Equestrian Club.; the Singapore Turf Club; the Egyptian International Equestrian Centre in Cairo; and the Presidential Polo Club in Moscow.

"Since I started in this market years ago, I've strived to develop a global platform and continuously set higher standards for equestrian facility design," said Gralla. "At Populous, we have all the tools to do just that."

Gralla has an extensive equestrian background. As a respected horseman, he has excelled personally at horse showing as an APHA World Champion, in both outdoor and arena polo and horse racing. He also was a founding member of the University of Oklahoma varsity polo team and he remains a volunteer coach and mentor today. Gralla is involved in many equestrian organizations, including the United States Polo Association, the American Horse Council, the American Quarter Horse Association, the League of Agriculture and Equestrian Centers and the International Association of Fairs and Expos. He also is a leading source of planning and design for many equine publications, including America's Horse, Thoroughbred Times, The Quarter Horse Journal, Equus, Dressage Today, Western Horseman and Horse Professional.

For further information please contact
Gina Leo Stingley at Populous (Kansas City)
Telephone: +1 816 221 1500
Facsimile: +1 816 221 1578
 
Email media@populous.com

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