Two CNC Foundations drilling rigs installing aggregate piers in front of a university football field in Hays, Kansas. The image shows the rigs positioned along the end zone marked “TIGERS,” with the stadium and bleachers in the background. This ground improvement work is part of a geotechnical project to support athletic facility upgrades.
Aerial view of Fort Hays State University’s Lewis Field Stadium with CNC Foundations’ aggregate pier ground improvement work underway in the end zone. Excavators are visible preparing deep fill soils for future stadium expansion, showcasing site-wide soil stabilization strategy.

AGGREGATE PIER GROUND IMPROVEMENT FOR UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMPLEX IN HAYS, KS

  • Hays, Kansas

CNC Foundations (CNC) provided ground improvement services using aggregate piers to support construction of the Bickle-Schmidt Athletic Complex, a 20,000-square-foot facility designed to strengthen Fort Hays State University’s athletic programs. Valued at $11.5 million, the complex will serve as a central hub for student-athlete development, featuring a large team meeting room, modern locker facilities for up to 130 athletes, and expanded office space for coaching staff.

To meet structural performance demands and variable subsurface conditions, CNC implemented an engineered ground improvement system that increased bearing capacity, mitigated settlement risk, and maintained schedule efficiency for the project team.

Project Details

  • Owner: Fort Hays State University
  • General Contractor: PWC Inc.
  • Structural Engineer: Bob D. Campbell & Co.
  • Project Timeline: 4 Production Days
  • Project Size: 20,000 sq ft
  • Design Bearing Capacity: 6,000 psf
  • Service: Aggregate Piers – Vibratory Stone Columns 
  • Install Numbers: 170+ aggregate piers at over 2,500 linear feet
  • Market Sector: Sports and Recreation

The university required a foundation system capable of supporting a high-performance athletic facility with minimal settlement.. However, subsurface investigations revealed interbedded clays, sands, and weathered shale—conditions that posed challenges for traditional foundation methods due to variable strength and compressibility. CNC Foundations was engaged to deliver a rapid, cost-effective ground improvement solution that met strict performance tolerances, aligned with the construction schedule, and provided long-term structural reliability.

Subsurface investigation identified a complex soil profile requiring strategic ground improvement. Findings included:

  • Interbedded clay and sand layers with variable strength and compressibility
  • Weathered shale acting as a transitional zone between upper soils and competent bedrock

These conditions called for a solution that could densify loose upper soils and effectively transfer structural loads into deeper, more stable strata to ensure uniform support and long-term performance.

CNC Foundations installed over 170 aggregate piers totaling over 2,500 linear feet, using a vibratory flot to place and compact stone in staged vertical lifts from design depth to grade. This engineered approach increased allowable bearing capacity to 6,000 psf, controlled settlement within strict design tolerances, and delivered consistent performance across variable soils and transitional shale layers. 

The work was completed in just four production days, maintaining schedule momentum and allowing the university’s flagship facility to advance on time and within budget.