Kansas State University
Nearly 50 years after it was built, Kansas State University's Veterinary Health Center has renovated and enlarged its small animal surgery center. The construction efforts occurred with relatively swift surgical precision thanks to a concerted team effort. The results will increase the surgical capabilities at K-State while enhancing its educational mission.
Elizabeth Davis, interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony where she acknowledged all those who participated in the renovation.
"We've had the dream to upgrade our small animal surgery center for a long time, and it took a dream team to make this happen," Davis said. "It began with a design drawn up by Dr. Walter Renberg, the section head for small animal surgery, and turned into actual blueprints by Hadley Stolte, the lead architect and K-State alumnus, at Clark and Enerson. BHS Construction turned it into a reality at lightning speed."
Renberg said the renovation of the surgical suites is a huge step forward for the hospital. The construction took the center from three small operating rooms to five large ones, with centralized induction and recovery rooms that will increase efficiency.
During construction, the small animal surgical services had to be temporarily rehoused in Mosier Hall. Davis said the flexibility of the college's faculty and staff during the period of nine months — from Nov. 25, 2024-Aug. 29, 2025 — allowed the Veterinary Health Center to provide uninterrupted service to clients.
"We anticipate the care for patients will be better, and we should be able to accommodate more, and different, cases," Renberg said. "Ophthalmologic surgery suite improvements and the nurses' workspace changes will benefit our mission tremendously."
More information about the small animal surgery service, including a photo gallery of the renovated space, is available at the Veterinary Health Center website.