A Bison-Sized Project: NDSU’s Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex
By Brenden Nickels, Senior Office Assistant
Kraus-Anderson has been doing business in Bismarck since 2014. Throughout that time, they’ve worked with many different clients and subcontractors. Most recently, North Dakota State University (NDSU) granted KA-Bismarck one of the office’s biggest projects yet.
NDSU, home of the Bison, partnered with Kraus-Anderson to build the Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex. Kraus-Anderson’s long-standing relationship with NDSU since 2017, as well as its recent work with the Minnesota Vikings on TCO Performance Center, made them the perfect general contracting candidate to support NDSU through construction.
Senior Project Manager Dan Walter, NDSU Class of 2010, tells us about the project and its impact.
How does it feel to be back on your old “stampeding” grounds, managing work for your alma mater?
It’s a huge honor to be working on this project, especially as an NDSU Alumni and big Bison Football fan. It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a facility like this for my alma mater. Seeing how much the campus has changed and continues to grow is exciting to witness first-hand. There is a multitude of projects in the works that I believe the students will find add immense value to their learning and campus experience.
Tell us about the complex and its features. Who will utilize the facility?
The complex has two practice turf fields, one outside and the other inside, so the football team can practice no matter the weather forecast. The facility has seven large glass overhead doors that separate the exterior field from the interior field, allowing for easy travel between fields or even using both at the same time. Phase 2 will add a weight room, coaches’ offices, and a nutrition bar, while Phase 3 will add locker rooms, meeting rooms, an equipment room, and a sports medicine room.
The complex is also used by NDSU’s women’s soccer, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s track and field, and men’s and women’s golf teams. The facility has netting systems and retractable batting cages. The genius of the space is that it’s diverse in terms of who and what sports it can accommodate. I can’t wait to see what their seasons bring. Go, Bison!
Construction started in September 2021, and the complex opened in October 2022. How did your team manage the tight deadline?
It took a lot of effort by all parties to pull it off, but we were able to beat our originally scheduled completion date for Phase 1. Kraus-Anderson’s Site Superintendent Brandon Larkin did a great job orchestrating the contracting partners, making sure everyone stayed on schedule and maximized productivity. Teamwork and commitment from all partners make a project successful. From NDSU to the design team (Foss Architecture + Interiors and Crawford Architects) to the variety of trades partners, everyone worked hard to expertly complete their respective tasks from day one.
In addition to a tight deadline, what other challenges did this project face? Is there anything unique about this build?
I don’t think any aspect of it was necessarily easy given the scale of the project, but the pre-engineered building structure and insulated metal panel roof system went up pretty quickly and smoothly. A couple of the biggest challenges were the weather — the wet and muddy conditions we fought all spring/summer — labor shortages, and material delays. We mitigated these challenges by communicating regularly, maintaining flexibility in our schedule, and keeping what was best for the project at the forefront of our decision-making.
The lack of interior columns needed is a unique part of this project. The 216’ clear span roof structure is entirely supported by columns in the exterior walls, so it doesn’t interfere with the activities being hosted in the building. Given the size of the building and how wide open it is, the design/engineering of this building was impressive.
How have the athletes/coaches/staff responded to the new facility?
It sounds like the players really enjoy it. In past years, teams have had to practice outdoors or in an inflatable bubble at Dacotah Field, so having this new state-of-the-art facility is a huge upgrade. It’s a modern and thoughtfully-designed space that I think offers students an enhanced practice and training experience. There’s a lot to be excited about once the entire facility is complete, and I imagine students are itching to start utilizing all it has to offer.
What other projects is KA currently doing for NDSU on its campus?
There’s a lot happening at NDSU and KA-Bismarck is excited to be involved. The Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex is one of six campus projects that we are currently working on or recently completed. Some of these projects include a new agriculture research building, the Peltier Complex. We’ve also been selected to manage the music department renovation and expansion at Challey Hall. We recently completed the new science building, Sugihara Hall, and its associated skyways, as well as Catherine Cater Hall, a modern residence hall for almost 450 students. We’re grateful to have a presence on the beautiful campus and to assist in taking the University to the next level in higher education.
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