Not Every Team Makes It to the Big Dance—But Every Campus Deserves a Place to Dream
March in the Midwest means a few guarantees: melting snow, busted brackets, and college towns buzzing with the contagious hope of a Cinderella run. But let’s be honest—not every campus is heading to the Big Dance. That’s okay. Because not all victories happen under stadium lights or in front of a national audience.
Sometimes they happen at 6 a.m. in a wellness center. Or on a quiet Saturday, when a student finally lands that personal record. Or during a pickup game that turns strangers into lifelong friends.
At EAPC, we design spaces for those moments. Sure, we love March Madness—but what really moves us is the rhythm of everyday student life across North and South Dakota, where grit, heart, and hometown pride are always in season.
Let’s start in Bismarck, North Dakota’s capital and home of the BSC Mystics. This city knows a thing or two about quiet power—it’s where the Missouri River meets wide-open sky, and where students push limits in more ways than one. At Bismarck State College, the new Multipurpose Athletic Center for Human Performance is more than a facility. It’s part gym, part lab, part community engine. The space serves athletes, future health professionals, and the local community—mirroring Bismarck’s identity as a place that values both roots and forward momentum.
Head northwest to Minot, where the weather can’t make up its mind, but the school spirit never wavers. Minot State University’s Dome has long been a landmark—known for its unique architecture and ability to echo the roar of Beavers fans. We helped bring it into a new era with a full renovation and the addition of a state-of-the-art Health & Wellness Center. Minot may be known for its Scandinavian Heritage Park and the North Dakota State Fair, but ask any student where they go to recharge, and this campus centerpiece tops the list.
In Fargo, the Red River Valley is home to more than just tech startups and booming development. It’s where you’ll find North Dakota State University, a land-grant school with a legendary football program and a fieldhouse that once hosted the Rolling Stones. (Yes, those Stones.) We helped reimagine the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse, transforming it into a modern, high-functioning space while preserving the soul of a building that’s seen decades of champions, concerts, and campus memories.
Now let’s talk about Brookings, South Dakota. It’s a town where Jackrabbit pride runs deep—and where the student section shows up loud whether it’s a rivalry game or a Tuesday night. South Dakota State University knew their athletic spaces needed to match the energy of their fans and the drive of their athletes. Enter First Bank & Trust Arena, a fully reimagined venue that elevates the game-day experience from the locker room to the last row. 
Behind the scenes, a new practice basketball facility keeps players focused and ready, while the expanded wellness center provides space for every student to move, stretch, and reset—no varsity status required.
Over in Bismarck again (what can we say—we love a capital city), the University of Mary continues to build momentum—quietly shaping leaders with a fierce sense of purpose. Their new Student Life Center is the heartbeat of campus, offering students a space to gather, move, and unwind against the backdrop of the bluffs overlooking the Missouri. For a city known for its calm, this space brings a new energy to student life.
And then there’s Jamestown, tucked between Fargo and Bismarck, where you’re just as likely to spot a bald eagle as you are to catch a Jimmie game. Known for its frontier village, bison herd, and the world’s largest buffalo monument (yes, really), Jamestown blends charm with ambition. At the University of Jamestown, we helped bring two critical projects to life: the Larson Sports Center and the Activity Center. These aren’t just athletic facilities—they’re gathering spaces for a community that shows up. Rain or shine. Win or learn.
What ties these campuses together isn't just geography or climate (though, let’s be real, designing for the Dakota winters is an art form). It’s a shared understanding that movement is essential. That student life happens in the in-between—between classes, between games, and between figuring out who you are and who you’re becoming.
So no, not every school is headed to March Madness. But every campus deserves a place where students can move, play, train, and connect. Where wins aren’t measured only in points, but in persistence. And where the facilities reflect the heart of the community they serve.
At EAPC, we’re proud to build for those moments. And in our book? That’s the real highlight reel.
