Three 49,000-square-foot horse barns at Legacy Downs in Lincoln, Nebraska, provide covered stabling space beside the racetrack. Their open sides and 140-foot clear spans were designed around how the barns would be used.

The Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association partnered with Chief Construction to build the three barns. Chief Buildings supplied the metal building systems.

Each barn measures 140 feet wide by 350 feet long. Together, the completed buildings provide 147,000 square feet under roof and share a consistent layout across the site.

Built Around the Horses

Rows of stalls run the length of each barn, with space alongside them for daily work and movement. The building frames span 140 feet without interior frame columns interrupting that layout.

The sides of the metal buildings remain open below the upper wall panels. That design keeps the stall areas accessible while placing them under a permanent roof. The stall systems were furnished separately from the Chief Buildings metal building systems.

Engineering the Open Design

The plans for Horse Barns B and C specify 35-foot bay spacing along each building. Portal frames in the sidewalls follow the approach used for an existing barn on the property. The structural criteria include a 111-mph ultimate wind speed and a 25-pound-per-square-foot ground snow load.

Cherokee panels finish the upper walls, while Polar White panels cover the roofs. Each barn also includes ridge vents and two-foot eave and gable extensions.

Those details work together to give the three barns the same footprint and appearance while preserving the open space needed inside.

Two Chief Teams on One Project

Chief Construction built the barns for the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, using metal building systems supplied by Chief Buildings. The project brought the two Chief Industries businesses together around a specific need: three large, open buildings for the horses housed at Legacy Downs.

With construction complete, the barns are ready to serve the racing operations at the property. We’re grateful to the Association and Chief Construction for the opportunity to be part of the project.

Project Details

Project Legacy Downs Horse Barns
Location Lincoln, Nebraska
Owner Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association
End Use Horse barns
Number of Buildings Three
Building Size 49,000 sq. ft. each; 147,000 sq. ft. combined
Building Dimensions 140 ft. × 350 ft. each
Metal Building Manufacturer Chief Buildings
Construction Partner Chief Construction
Building Configuration Open-sided, clear-span barns
Bay Spacing 35 ft.
Roof Slope 2:12
Ultimate Wind Speed 111 mph
Roof Panels Polar White
Upper Wall Panels Cherokee