Smith began his career in Architecture over thirty-six years ago as a specialty, themed mass attendance architect beginning with the Knoxville World’s fair and continuing to work on two additional World’s Fairs, three Olympic venues, numerous theme parks, and multiple Fairgrounds, Rodeos and Livestock Shows. Mr. Smith has led his design team in the design of over 260 fairgrounds projects including twenty-two (22) State Fairgrounds masterplans, expo halls and livestock complexes in all fifty states, seven Canadian provinces and twenty-three (23) countries. In 2007, the Smith firm’s fairgrounds team was acquired by the global firm Populous. For twelve years, Smith and his fairgrounds design team led the Fairgrounds Practice for this sports oriented firm. In 2018, Smith and his Fairgrounds Planning Team established Charles D. Smith Architecture & Planning , LLC to focus specifically on Fairgrounds, equestrian centers, rodeo facilities, Expo Halls, Multi-purpose Arenas, Livestock Complexes and related Mixed-use Developments.