A World Cup Legacy: Building for All Event Recap

Jun

FIFA World Cup 26™ has arrived in Seattle! In April, as our city prepared for the world stage, our DEI Committee hosted their Building for All: A World Cup Legacy event at HITT Contracting. The event gathered industry partners for a hosted happy hour and panel discussion exploring the Seattle FWC26 Planning Committee's efforts through a commercial real estate and DEI lens.

The event focused on one of Seattle FWC26’s six legacy pillars: accessibility. These pillars are part of a broader framework rooted in sustainability, human rights, accessibility, culture, children, and community, with the goal of ensuring the World Cup’s impact extends far beyond the matches themselves and create a lasting and inclusive legacy across the Puget Sound. Learn more about these initiatives through the Seattle FIFA World Cup 26™ Accessibility Committee here.

The panel was moderated by Patrick McQueen (PCL Construction), who led a thoughtful and engaging conversation with local designers and industry leaders actively shaping inclusive spaces. Panelists included Tess Dickman (Studio Pacifica), Andrea Kovich (Studio Pacifica), and Brad McGuirt (Berger Partnership). Panelists shared how accessibility-first design, inclusive planning, and community engagement can meaningfully influence the built environment as Seattle prepared for a global audience.

Attendees appreciated the practical insights shared, along with the emphasis on real-world application within commercial real estate, public spaces, and infrastructure. The panel focused on defining accessibility and taking a user-focused approach to design. They explored the intentions of the multi-discipline Advisory Committee and unpacked the concepts of the City of Seattle as a venue, not just the stadium. Finally, the panel wrapped the conversation with their thoughts on what a truly accessible future could entail for Seattle.

The event underscored a powerful takeaway: the Seattle World Cup games are more than a moment in time. It is an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, elevate inclusive design, and leave a positive, lasting impact on our region.

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This blog was written by Patrick McQueen (PCL Construction) on behalf of the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee. For more information on how to join or sponsor the DEI Committee, email [email protected].