Downtown L.A. construction and engineering firm Aecom has been hired as the lead architect to design a new arena for the Sacramento Kings, the NBA franchise announced Monday.

Aecom was the winner of a competitive bidding process. It plans to have some arena renderings completed this fall and final design plans completed by the middle of next year. The work will be done from an Aecom outpost in Sacramento.

The arena represents a vote of confidence in the capital city from the team’s new ownership group, led by Indian entrepreneur Vivik Ranadive. There had been rumors the Kings could move to Anaheim or another location.

Aecom said it expected the project would help boost the fortunes of Sacramento.

“We are thrilled to be selected to design the new downtown arena,” Jon Niemuth, director of AECOM Sports, Americas, said in a statement. “We are prepared to design an arena that will not only provide a tremendous home court advantage for the Kings, but that will also create an amazing experience for everyone who steps foot in and around the facility. This project will transform downtown and the entire region.”