For decades, the Dee Events Center has been at the center of campus life at Weber State University. As home to Weber State basketball and a venue for conference championships, NCAA Tournament games, and community events, the 12,000-seat arena has welcomed generations of students, fans, and visitors through its doors.
New Life for a Landmark Arena
To help ensure the facility continues serving the campus and community for years to come, Weber State University recently completed an $18.2 million modernization of the building's mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems. More than a routine upgrade, the project supports the university's broader electrification strategy and commitment to carbon neutrality by 2040.
Harnessing the Power of Geothermal
The centerpiece of the renovation is a ground-source geothermal system designed by our team. Beneath the arena's east-side parking lot, 285 boreholes, each roughly 400 feet deep, connect to a closed-loop piping network that works with high-efficiency heat pumps to provide heating and cooling throughout the building. By harnessing the earth's relatively constant underground temperature, the system helps move the facility away from traditional gas-fired equipment and toward all-electric operation.
As Lynk Engineers' COO of Mechanical Engineering, Jarrett Capstick, notes, “What makes this project and geothermal system unique is its scale.” With 285 geothermal boreholes, 225,000 CFM of custom-built air handlers, and five energy recovery ventilators, the system represents a significant step toward the university's carbon-neutrality goals while delivering highly efficient heating and cooling for one of its most heavily used facilities.
Capstick also points to the significant energy savings resulting from the innovative design. “This system moves the Dee Events Center off gas-fired equipment and onto a system where the heat pumps are delivering several times the energy we’re putting into them. Instead of the heating system using 90% efficient gas-fired boilers, it’s using 400-500% efficient heat pumps,” he said.
The geothermal system was just one component of the broader modernization effort. The project consolidated four aging fan rooms into two, freeing up space that can now be repurposed within the arena. Ancillary spaces were converted to hybrid variable refrigerant volume (VRF) systems, and plumbing, fire protection, lighting, and electrical infrastructure were upgraded throughout the building.
Keeping the Doors Open
Perhaps most impressive is that much of this work took place while the arena remained substantially operational. Careful phasing and close coordination between the university, design team, and KIER Construction, the general contractor, allowed the Dee Events Center to continue hosting athletic and community events throughout much of the approximately 18-month construction period.
Sustainability for the Future
Today, the Dee Events Center stands ready for its next chapter. Through a combination of innovative engineering and long-term planning, the project supports Weber State University's sustainability goals while helping ensure that one of its most recognizable facilities continues to serve students, athletes, and the broader community for decades to come.
This project was featured in the September 2026 issue of Utah Construction + Design Magazine, “MEP Modernization”, p. 58.