Greensboro Complex Honors Bob Kennerly With Plaque
The commemorative plaque recognizes the late structural engineer who supervised construction of the original Greensboro Coliseum.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Awards
The Greensboro Complex dedicated a commemorative plaque to Robert "Bob" Kennerly on Thursday morning, adding it to the Sullivan Family Fountain. Kennerly is the 2026 honoree of the complex's annual plaque, following Mo Milani in 2025.
Why it matters
The plaque recognizes decades of structural engineering work that shaped the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, according to remarks from former Managing Director Matt Brown. The annual honor is designed to recognize individuals who have provided longstanding support to the venue.
Kennerly supervised construction of the original Greensboro Coliseum before it opened in 1959 and served as structural engineer for every major improvement through 2015. The source does not specify the exact scope of each improvement project.
The players
Bob Kennerly
Kennerly was a structural engineer and founding partner of Sutton-Kennerly & Associates, now SKA Consulting Engineers, Inc., who died in April 2026 at age 94.
Matt Brown
Brown is a former Managing Director of the Greensboro Complex who worked with Kennerly for 35 years.
Hugh Holston
Holston is a member of the Greensboro City Council who spoke at the plaque dedication.
Scott Johnson
Johnson is the current General Manager of the Greensboro Complex who spoke at the plaque dedication.
SKA Consulting Engineers, Inc.
SKA Consulting Engineers is the engineering firm later renamed from Sutton-Kennerly & Associates, co-founded by Kennerly.
The details
Speakers at the dedication included Greensboro City Council member Hugh Holston, former Managing Director Matt Brown, current General Manager Scott Johnson, and SKA executives Aaron Bopp and Rob Kennerly. Kennerly was a founding partner of Sutton-Kennerly & Associates, now SKA Consulting Engineers, Inc., and died in April 2026 at age 94.
Timeline
1958-1959: Kennerly supervised construction of the original Greensboro Coliseum.
2015: Kennerly's service as structural engineer for major improvements ended.
2025: Mo Milani was named the first annual plaque honoree, and the Sullivan Family Fountain was dedicated.
April 2026: Kennerly died at age 94.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: The plaque dedication ceremony was held.
Legal Context
Kennerly's career tracks the long lifecycle of the Greensboro Coliseum, from its original 1959 construction through major upgrades that continued until 2015. Recognizing an engineer who shaped the building across that span reflects how civic venues are often sustained by the technical work of individuals rather than a single project.
For Greensboro residents, the plaque marks a public recognition of the engineering work behind the Coliseum Complex that hosts events across the city. The annual honor program also signals that future recognitions at the complex will continue to be announced.
The takeaway
Long-serving professionals such as Kennerly often shape public venues in ways that remain visible for generations. Readers interested in civic recognition can note how the Greensboro Complex is using its annual plaque to acknowledge sustained contributions.
Further reading
For more on honors like this one, browse Awards coverage across Greensboro.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Myfox8.
