CASE STUDY:
NCSU Close-King
Indoor Practice Facility

As an NCAA Division I program, NC State competes at the highest level of college athletics. At Associated Fire Protection, many of us are Wolfpack fans! So when we heard that NC State was looking to build a $14-million state-of-the-art indoor athletic facility, we knew we had to be a part of it.

Close-King is a nearly 90,000 square foot complex that ensures Wolfpack athletes have access to world-class practice facilities cutting-edge strength training, conditioning, and sports medicine.

The facility includes a 120-yard regulation football practice field with artificial turf, four track spring lanes which extend the length of the field, and a variety of in-ground and above-ground pads for other track events.

A Tall Order

Even kickers on the football team can practice year round, in any weather condition due to the high, barrel-style arched roof. While this is an incredible feature, it posed an interesting challenge to our team. We needed to design a fire sprinkler system that not only met our standards and code requirements, but that also met the aesthetic standards of the design team and the University.

To meet this challenge, our team custom-fabricated the entire system in our on-site fabrication shop. We utilized flexible couplings throughout, which allows the piping system to closely follow the curvature of the ceiling. We even used white sprinkler heads with red protective guards in a tribute to the Wolfpack colors

When it came time for our crew to install the system, we utilized a special all-terrain 4WD articulating boom lift, which hoisted our crew members 73 feet above the floor level to allow for installation of the system.

LEEDing the Way

In addition to its unique design and features, the Close-King Indoor Practice Facility is also LEED certified. The use of regionally sourced and recycled materials, as well as energy-saving features makes the facility a model of what can be achieved using sustainable strategies. The arched roof is not only great for practicing kicking, but also helps air flow, along with 16 glass doors that provide a natural form of ventilation to the entire building.

The football program as well as the baseball, track and field, cross country, and men’s and women’s soccer teams all benefit from the facility. While there are many great reasons for student athletes to choose NCSU, the Close-King Indoor Practice Facility helps the Wolfpack continue to attract the best of the best to Raleigh.

The Associated Fire Protection team couldn’t be more proud to have this project in our portfolio. Go Pack!