When Kansas State University Athletics set out to convert its indoor football facility into a training space for the track and field team, they needed more than a basic retrofit. They needed a partner who could think beyond replacing like for like equipment to help them plan for long-term flexibility. At U.S. Engineering Service, that’s where we excel: taking a whole-system approach that puts the needs of the facility, and the people who use it, first.
People-Driven Solutions
We were invited to complete this project through a shared understanding of the facility’s future and an existing relationship built on trust. The KSU Athletics team brought clear goals and vision of what they were wanting to change in the facility, they leaned on us to help with the equipment selection and technical insight. We brought a collaborative mindset and a focus on practical, long-term value.
Rather than replacing outdated HVAC units with like-for-like equipment, we studied how the space had evolved and came up with equipment that could be safely worked on as well as having the ability to add cooling in the future if the building requires it. Upgrades to lighting, insulation, and finishes had already shifted the facility’s load profile. The existing units were oversized, noisy, and installed where access to them was unsafe and in hard-to-access locations. Working closely with Service leadership, we proposed a more efficient and adaptable system: quieter equipment, positioned for safe maintenance, and designed to accommodate future cooling needs.
Field Team Problem-Solving
Designing for flexibility doesn’t stop at the drawing board. It takes real-time awareness in the field. That’s something our Flint Hills Field Team bring to every job. Our Field Team identified key opportunities to improve both function and form as construction progressed.
One example: the track and field team needed a hose to clean sand pits. Instead of surface-mounting a line, our Team Members designed a recessed hose vault that drains for freeze protection and remains hidden when not in use. It’s a better long-term solution, built on situational awareness and ingenuity by our field leaders.
In another case, they addressed a structural gap. The building couldn’t support the weight of the new ductwork, so our Field Team Members sketched a support solution onsite, coordinated engineering review, and helped move it into fabrication from our Lawrence Fab Shop. The engineer was so impressed by their drawings and details he asked us to be able to reuse the design on their future projects.
What Trust Makes Possible
This $750,000 retrofit succeeded not because of a rigid process, but because of responsive, relationship-driven execution. We earned the client’s trust by showing up with the right attitude, the right team, and a willingness to solve problems as they came. It’s how we operate here and why partners come back to us time and again.
For Kansas State University Athletics, the result is a quieter, safer, and more adaptable facility designed around athletes’ needs. For us, it’s another example of the value we bring when we combine the best field experience, flexible thinking, and a commitment to doing what’s best for the building, and more importantly, its users.