Alumni Profile: Karsh Bhatt, G'23

For many KU students, a visit to the Booth means two things: commencement or a KU football game. For Karsh Bhatt, G’23, it means so much more.

“I consider myself lucky to be part of the Gateway Project and I’m thankful to Turner Construction for giving me the opportunity to be a part of it,” Bhatt said.

Bhatt joined Turner Construction, a construction services company with an office in Kansas City, after his graduation in 2023. Just one year later, Bhatt was back in the Booth working on pre-construction in preparation for the renovation that would see the Jayhawks relocated to Arrowhead Stadium for the 2024-25 season.

“I’ve been to the old football stadium so many times to watch games and cheer for KU,” Bhatt said. “I was so excited to be back. It’s like going back to university.”

Bhatt hails from Gujarat, India where he completed his undergraduate degree in civil engineering at Gujarat University. From there he decided to continue his education and travelled to KU to work toward a master’s in civil engineering with a focus in construction management within the Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering Department (CEAE).

During his time in the CEAE Department, Bhatt worked with professors like Dr. Steven Schrock to develop a construction management guide that includes step-by-step instructions on the process, starting with bidding to the napkin sketch to a fully finished building.

“Dr. Schrock and Dr. Lines were both my academic mentors who helped me grow through their leadership,” Bhatt said. “Their advice helped me develop my career and grow a lot.”

After the Booth renovation is completed in August 2025, Bhatt isn’t sure what the future holds, but he’s excited to see where he ends up next.

“Right now, I like being a part of building a stadium,” he said. “Maybe if I get the opportunity, I could work on an NFL stadium, because Turner has a lot of similar projects happening around the country.”

As for words of wisdom for current and future engineering students, Bhatt has a lot of advice.

“This is just the beginning,” he said, referring to that first post-college job. “Be open to ask questions and learn, adapt and grow. Be open to new challenges and don’t be afraid to take risks.”

Transitioning from school to full-time work can sometimes feel overwhelming, but Bhatt has developed ways to combat those feelings by practicing skills he learned while working with other CEAE professors, student organizations and hands on learning opportunities within the department.

“I chose KU because they had a nicely defined construction management degree with the flexibility to choose what I wanted to learn,” Bhatt said. “KU has a strong academic foundation. They do a great job implementing the practical skills involved to help shape my career. They helped me enter the workforce with more confidence.”

Many KU students visit the Booth for commencement or KU football games, but not many can claim to have had a hand in its construction. That distinction belongs to Karsh Bhatt.