The University of Minnesota athletics department announced Wednesday that the design firm POPULOUS will partner with athletics director Norwood Teague in designing a five to 15 year master facilities plan.

POPULOUS – formerly known as HOK Sport – will help prioritize, not design, the department’s facilities needs. Teague has said a facilities master plan is one of his top priorities since taking over the Gophers in June.

The Kansas City-based design firm created the specs for TCF Bank Stadium and Target Field, along with the new Yankees stadium in New York.

“POPULOUS is one of the major players in the athletic facilities design and planning industry,” Teague said in a statement. “We are pleased to announce this new partnership. Their work on TCF Bank Stadium was outstanding, and I look forward to working with them on producing this critical document.”

The facilities master plan is expected to be finished by early spring.