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Recent News Articles

Designing for the Next Generation

In the midst of the back-to-school chaos this month, we’re reminded just how fortunate we are to welcome students back to their school buildings at all. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in countless shifts in our world, and leaving the classroom was one of them. But a...

Factories of the Future

Manufacturing is making a big comeback in the U.S., fueled by government investments and a move toward bringing production back home. This shift is changing the game, with a focus on modernizing facilities, embracing new tech, and going green. As the industry...

Hats Off to Higher Education!

We love this time of year! A time for celebrating accomplishments, closing chapters, and turning the page on life's next big adventure. This month, thousands of students will don cap and gown, make a final walk across the stage, and receive that diploma that...

WPE Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Anyone who has turned 40 will tell you, it's a unique milestone. We're proud of what our firm has learned and accomplished, and we're confident and excited about who we are today. It felt appropriate to create a memorial logo for the occasion to commemorate such an...

Doug Feterl Announces Retirement

It’s with genuine pride and appreciation that we announce Doug Feterl is stepping down to retire from his position as President of West Plains Engineering. The company has planned for Marty Christensen, P.E. to step into the role as Doug's replacement effective...

2023 In Review

Thank you just doesn’t quite seem to cut it. There are truly no words to express our gratitude for getting to work with and for our colleagues, clients and partners 365 days a year…for the past 39 years (and counting). In this edition of Plains Talk, we spend some...

Preserving the Past with Historic Renovations

There are several challenges with historic renovations that we as designers don’t encounter as often when facing modern construction. One main concern for MEP design is finding the right balance between preservation and modernization. As engineers, we strive for the...

MEP Networks Behind Campus Infrastructure

West Plains Engineering has four regional offices in the upper Midwest, and if you look closely, you’ll see these locations weren’t chosen at random. Each of our offices is placed in close proximity to major higher education institutions…in part because we understand...

How MEP Impacts Medical Procedures

In the A/E/C sphere, we tend to generalize when talking about project types. For many of us, our work falls into big buckets titled things like K-12, Commercial, Industrial, Housing and, of course, Healthcare. The reality is however, that each of these project...

Stroh Earns ASHRAE CHD Designation

Mechanical Engineer Matt Stroh, P.E. recently passed his examination to become a Certified HVAC Designer (CHD) from the Association of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). This designation is managed under ISO/IEC 17024 requirements for...

Building Management Made Better

Anyone who grew up watching the Jetsons (yes, we're dating ourselves) saw with wide-eyed disbelief the early expectations for what today are known as Building Automation Systems (BAS). George, Joan, and the kids lived in a semi-autonomous world where virtually...

Designing Secure Prison Spaces

As State legislatures continue to meet and debate budget appropriations for the 2023 spending year, high on the list of critical agenda items are correctional facilities. In some areas, this means adequate staffing and operational programming. In others, it's time to...

Happy E-Week!

Join us in celebrating E-Week, February 19-25 - a time to recognize and promote our industry and the incredible professionals in it. This year's theme is Creating the Future! Engineers play a vital role in innovating solutions to global challenges that impact future...

Sioux Falls Advocates for Animals

Each year WPE donates $1,000 to a non-profit in each of our markets as selected by our staff through our Ways to Give corporate philanthropy program. The Sioux Falls Humane Society was nominated by CAD Technician Ben Sonichsen, and selected by our Sioux Falls staff....

Casper Chooses Canines in 2022

Each year WPE donates $1,000 to a non-profit in each of our markets as selected by our staff through our Ways to Give corporate philanthropy program. Project Kenny was chosen by our Casper staff to receive their Community Investment donation for 2022. The organization...

Plains Talk Newsletter

The Plains Talk Newsletter is a publication of West Plains Engineering highlighting our projects, challenges and, most importantly, solutions.

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2024

  • July/August – Designing for the Next Generation
    • Review Before Renovations: White River School District
    • Student-Centered MEP Design Approach
    • Combatting Crowded Classrooms: Tri-Valley Elementary & High School
    • Making Good Bones Great: Lisbon High School
  • May/June – Factories of the Future
    • Backyard Building – Maven Outdoor Equipment Company
    • Post-Pandemic Manufacturing Growth
    • Manufacturing Modern Tech: BAE Systems
    • Small Business Boom: Scherer, Inc.
  • March/April – Hats Off to Higher Education
    • Beyond Books: SD Mines Devereaux Library Modernization
    • Putting Design on the Docket: USD Knudson School of Law Upgrades
    • Upping Their Game: SDSU Stanley J. Marshall Center Improvements
  • January/February –  40th Anniversary
    • WPE 40th Anniversary Announcement
    • A Message from WPE President, Marty Christensen
    • Daren Beckloff, P.E. Promoted to Engineering & Operations Director

2023

  • November/December
    • 2023 in Review
  • September/October
    • Preserving the Past: MEP Design for Historic Renovations
    • Doubling Down on Deadwood: Historic Franklin Hotel Renovations
    • Repurpose with a Purpose: Colonial Building Affordable Housing Conversion
    • Governing Through the Ages: Weston County Courthouse Repairs & Renovations
  • July/August
    • MEP Underground: Campus Steam Tunnel Design
    • Campus Growth 101: SD Mines Utility Infrastructure Study & Upgrades
    • Chilling with the Jacks: SDSU SW Quadrant Utility Repairs & Extensions
    • Powering Progress: Northwest College Medium Voltage Upgrades
  • May/June
    • Specialty Medical Design: How MEP Impacts Procedures
    • Environments For Imaging: Black Hills & Sioux Falls VA Health Care Systems MRI Site Preparation
    • Filling the Gap: Casper Medical Imaging Expansion
    • Understanding the Nuances of Care: Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital
  • March/April
    • Building Management Made Better: The Benefits of BAS
    • Intelligent Automation: Thinking Outside the BAS Box
    • Control & Monitoring Standards: USP Requirements of Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
  • January/February
    • Beyond Bars & Fences: Design For Secure Prison Spaces
    • Keeping Up With the Times: Mike Durfee State Prison Barracks HVAC Upgrades
    • Cross-Functional Corrections: South Dakota State Women’s Prison
    • Safety First: 6th Judicial District Facility Improvements

2022

  • November/December
    • A Letter from Doug Feterl, P.E. – WPE President
    • Looking Back at 2022 By the Numbers
  • September/October
    • Strategic Direction Report: Electric Vehicle Charger Design Considerations
    • The Federal Response: EV & the Existing Transportation Infrastructure
    • The Adoption Trend: EV Stations & Existing Fueling Sites
  • July/August
    • Strategic Direction Report: The Serious Work of Student Safety
    • Stronger Together: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton School & Fieldhouse
    • Getting Ahead of the Curve: Chamberlaid CSD Elementary & HS Gym
    • Finding Space: Cotter Elementary Addition & Renovation
  • May/June
    • Strategic Direction Report: Finding Non-Linear Approaches to Design Delivery
    • Working Backward Underground: SDSTA 3650 Pump Room Rehab
    • Parallel Procurement: Bringing On Sub-Constractors Prior to Design Completion
  • March/April
    • Strategic Direction Report: Geothermal/Water Source Heat Pump Systems
    • Military Mechanical Sustainability: South Dakota Army National Guard
    • What’s Remotely Possible: Sutton Bay Golf Course & Resort
    • Thinking Long Term: Geothermal Systems for Schools
  • January/February
    • Strategic Direction Report: Putting the IQ in IDIQ
    • Prime Opportunity with a World-Renowned Client: SDSTA
    • As-Needed for Any Need: UIHC
    • On-Call MEP for M&R: South Dakota State University

    Plains Talk Archives