OSPORTS/Osborn Engineering provided civil and structural engineering services for a comprehensive repair and replacement study at The Ohio State University (OSU), focusing on the French Field House and Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Track. The scope included addressing substantial settlement concerns on the north side of the French Field House track area. Additionally, OSU envisioned a complete overhaul of the track surface and pavement section at the Jesse Owens venue. Our team developed recommendations for each site, carefully tailored to their unique requirements.

 

A prior study conducted in 2019 revealed discrepancies in the as-built track profile compared to the 1998 design specifications. As a result, Osborn recommended complete removal of the existing track, asphalt, and stone base, followed by proof rolling of the subgrade to ensure a suitable foundation. Additionally, the existing long jump, triple jump, pole vault, and steeplechase equipment should be removed. The new track will feature a state-of-the-art synthetic surface and adhere strictly to NCAA requirements, ensuring it meets modern standards and provides optimal performance.

 

The civil scope depends on structural needs, primarily focused on upgrading a 6-lane, 200m track, along with new high jump and pole vault areas, and two long jump runways. We developed three options to address settlement issues on the north backstretch of the French Field House track ranging in cost and complexity. The options included installing a deep foundation system, grade beams, and a structural slab, impacting facility use for 3 to 4 months, or improving the soil through polyurethane injection and leveling the track incrementally within three days.