Jake Martin
Founder and Principal, Sports Architecture Research Office
Originally from Darwin, Jake has spent 15 years specialising in sports infrastructure, from community aquatic centres achieving 5 Star Green Star ratings to 85,000-seat international stadium complexes.
Currently Senior Associate at Buchan leading sports architecture for Brisbane 2032 Olympic venues and NZ stadium masterplans, Jake founded SARO to give smaller organisations, clubs, federations, and councils, access to the same strategic rigour that major government projects demand.
Previously at dwp.design, he delivered the State Netball and Hockey Centre ($64.6M) and pioneered sustainable aquatics across regional Australia. His early career at Populous included a US secondment designing overlay for Super Bowl XLIX, NCAA championships, and multi-venue Commonwealth Games coordination.
Leading sports architecture for Brisbane 2032 Olympic venues and urban renewal masterplans across Queensland and New Zealand. Key projects: Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium, Northshore Vision 2050, QSAC Redevelopment.
Six-year focus on community sports and aquatics across Victoria and South Australia. Delivered the $64.6M State Netball and Hockey Centre, the centrepiece of Victoria's investment in women's sport, alongside Green Star aquatic facilities for regional councils.
Major stadium delivery and international overlay design, including a 2014 to 2015 secondment to Denver, Colorado, working on Super Bowl XLIX, NCAA Final Four, and College Football Playoffs. Projects across Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and New Zealand.
Why SARO is different
No conflict of interest
SARO does not compete for design commissions. Advice on procurement, architect selection, and tender evaluation is independent. Clients get advocacy, not upselling.
Architect led oversight
Advice comes from a practising architect, not a generalist consultant. Technical recommendations carry professional weight that pure consultants cannot match.
Overlay design expertise
No other independent Australian consultant has combined Super Bowl, NCAA championship, and Commonwealth Games overlay experience. With Brisbane 2032 approaching, this capability has immediate market relevance.
Full scale range
Experience spans 200-seat community venues to 85,000-seat international stadiums. Advice is calibrated to the client's actual scale, so community clubs get relevant, proportionate guidance.
Sustainability track record
Delivered one of Australia's first 5 Star Green Star aquatic facilities. Sustainability advice is grounded in actual delivery constraints, not theoretical targets.
