Kahler Slater, an award-winning international architecture, interior design, environmental branding, and strategic advisory services firm, is pleased to announce Sadat Khan has joined the firm as Recreation & Wellness Program Strategist. Sadat, formerly the Director of Facilities & Operations at UW-Madison, says staying “NIRSA-adjacent” was an important factor in his career transition from rec center to design firm.
“After working as a professional in the industry for 19 years, it was imperative to me that I would be able to continue working alongside professionals I have known for years,” he says. “In my new role as the Recreation & Wellness Program Strategist for Kahler Slater, I get to help clients fulfill some of their biggest goals in strategically thinking about their facilities and creating new spaces for their students—something that I was fortunate to do several times in my career.”
In his new role, Sadat will leverage design thinking, user research, and business strategy to develop innovative and engaging recreational and wellness spaces and experiences, ensuring they align with organizational objectives and user needs. Sadat’s addition to the firm supports the growth and evolution of Kahler Slater’s practice in designing athletics, recreation, and wellness environments for colleges, universities, and communities from coast to coast.
“We are excited to welcome Sadat to our team,” shares Jeff Piette, Kahler Slater’s Vice President and Sports + Recreation Practice Leader. “With his extensive experience and genuine passion for recreation and wellness, we are confident he will be instrumental in helping us bring our clients’ visions to life and further drive innovation in the market.”
From attendee to exhibitor: Reflections on the NIRSA Conference
NIRSA members may have seen Sadat in the Kahler Slater booth during the NIRSA 2025 Campus Rec Expo. Although Sadat notes that “being on the opposite side of the expo table was certainly different,” the importance of connections and networking remained pivotal to his NIRSA Conference experience.
“When you are on the university side, you are usually on the go and trying to visit specific booths to bring information and new products back for your team,” he continues. “When you are exhibiting, things slow down a bit. The conversations are longer, and you get to truly check in with people. It was far more about making a connection than it is a transaction.”
As he reflects on his time in Orlando, Sadat identified the continued need for well-designed, effective spaces as a top-of-mind takeaway.
“I had multiple conversations with NIRSA members—whether entry level or department leaders—who expressed their institution’s needs to expand offerings and spaces to meet student demand,” he explains. “How we solve this will need to be innovative and collaborative. There were several sessions on the use of AI (from an architecture and efficiency standpoint), working hand-in-hand with student health centers, and the integration of wellness services and equipment like massage and hydrotherapy. I am excited to be working for an organization that will allow me to help solve some of those challenges for campuses across the country.”
About Sadat and his leadership at an award-winning rec center
Sadat brings 19 years of leadership, operations, and facility management experience in collegiate recreation. He previously held positions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, NC State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Arizona State University. He is a longtime NIRSA Championship Series volunteer and was a mainstay at the NIRSA National Soccer Championships for several years.
Most recently at UW-Madison, Sadat played a pivotal role in aligning the strategic interests of the department by leading a team of over 40 professionals and over 400 student-employees. There, he was responsible for capital planning and managed over 600,000 square feet of indoor facilities and 60 acres of outdoor activity space. Sadat made significant contributions to the design, construction, and opening of two synthetic turf facilities and two recreation centers as part of the $236 million recreation master plan, including the award-winning Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center.
About Kahler Slater
Kahler Slater designs spaces to enrich life and achieve powerful results, and the firm has been a NIRSA associate member since 2003. Through architecture, interior design, environmental branding, and strategic advisory services, Kahler Slater solves their clients’ most pressing challenges, advances strategic goals, and accelerates progress. Kahler Slater operates offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Richmond, Charlotte, and Singapore.
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Sarah Wardius is currently the Sr. Marketing Coordinator and Associate at Kahler Slater Architects, Inc; you can email Sarah at swardius@kahlerslater.com.
