Kansas State University

Summer construction heats up at Kansas State University

Thursday, June 30, 2016

The new 155,000-square-feet College of Business Administration building on Lovers Lane is expected to be move-in ready in late July. | Download this photo.

MANHATTAN — Summer heat brings new concrete and many more improvements at Kansas State University.

The university recently completed several construction projects, including the new Berney Family Welcome Center in East Memorial Stadium in May and the College of Engineering Phase IV expansion in January. Many significant projects remain under construction and planning for future projects continues, all part of the university's goal to become a Top 50 public research university by 2025.

The current projects in order of expected completion:

• College of Business Administration building — The new 155,000-square-feet building on Lovers Lane is expected to be move-in ready in late July. It has tiered classrooms, a large showcase lecture hall, computer labs, a financial research lab, an executive conference room, and dedicated space for entrepreneurship, sales education, study, collaboration and networking throughout the building.
  
  
• Jon Wefald Hall — Construction of the university's newest residence hall, part of the Kramer Complex on Claflin Road, is expected to be move-in ready by the start of the fall semester. Named in honor of the university's 12th president, Wefald Hall has eight floors and 129,000 square feet of living space for more than 540 students. New elevators and connecting bridges from Marlatt and Goodnow halls to the Kramer Dining Center's new addition will be complete in September. Renovations to the existing part of the second floor of Kramer Dining Center will start in September.
  
  
• West Residence Hall — Renovations to the bathrooms, fire sprinklers and fire alarms started in January and are expected to be complete and move-in ready by the fall semester.
  
  
• Bill Snyder Family Stadium Phase III B — Construction of the northeast corner of the stadium is expected to be complete by fall semester. It will include a showcase stage for the Pride of Wildcat Land, the Kansas State University Marching Band; the visiting team locker room; officials locker room; videoboard; and 360-degree concourse to fully enclose the stadium and add additional seating.
  
  
• Equine Performance Testing Facility — The new addition to the Veterinary Medicine Complex will provide a soft-footing riding arena, an asphalt footing area and a 140-foot-long runway for lameness examinations; four holding stalls; a farrier services area; a radiographic imaging area; and a conference room for client services, student education and outreach activities. Construction of the $2.8 million facility, funded by Veterinary Health Center revenue, began in June and is expected to be complete by January 2017.
  
  
• K-State Student Union — Construction on the $31-million renovation, funded by a flat $20 per semester increase in a student-approved privilege fee, is on track for its grand opening in spring 2017. Many areas of the Union continue to conduct normal business, and occupants move in to new areas as completed. The project is updating the southern appearance of the building, renovating the retail areas, adding several collaborative student lounges, consolidating the student activities offices and enhancing dining services with a sports pub and coffee house. The Union Station restaurant will be run by the university's Housing and Dining Services.
  
  
• Chilled Water Plant and distribution project — The new Chilled Water Plant, north of Claflin Road on campus, opened in May. It provides chilled-water cooling to several buildings. Workers continue to install new chilled water pipes around campus — causing many on-campus road closures — to create a loop system that will allow for repair and maintenance to minimize the effect on surrounding facilities. The project's final major phases, creating the Mid-Campus Drive pedestrian mall and building modifications to tie into the system, are expected to be complete in the fall and in May 2017, respectively.
  
  
• Purebred Beef Teaching Unit — Construction to improve this facility is expected to start in July and be completed in April 2017.
  
  
• Seaton Hall renovation and expansion — The improvements and new construction for the College of Architecture, Planning & Design's home will provide 194,000 square feet of space with interdisciplinary design labs, an outdoor teaching amphitheater, a 300-seat auditorium, consolidated fabrication and product design labs, an atrium commons and collaborative spaces. Along with donor and state funds, the college's Student Advisory Council voted to increase student fees for four years to raise $1 million annually to support the project. It is expected to be complete in August 2017.
  
  
• Jardine Complex — Building G of the Jardine Apartments will be complete for the fall semester.

Several repair and rehabilitation projects have been or are nearly completed:

• Manhattan campus classroom remodel or renovation of 202 Call Hall; 142 Seaton Hall; 002, A, B and C 001 and 202 Trotter Hall; third floor of Umberger Hall; and 38, 108, 231 and 254 Waters Hall.
  
  
• Remodel of Bluemont Hall restrooms.
  
  
• Remodel of Kansas State University Polytechnic's Student Outreach Center.
  
  
• Roof replacement and maintenance of the Power Plant and Derby Dining Center on the Manhattan campus and to buildings on the Kansas State Polytechnic campus to prevent and repair leaking.
  
  
• Fire code compliance of Hale Library sprinkler system.
  
  
• Improvements to Fiedler Library Success Center, Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility buildings, Ice Hall, Sheep Meat Goat Center, Foundation Center on Anderson Avenue, and Rocky Ford research area on Barnes Road in Manhattan.
  
  
• Extension Systems and Agricultural Research Programs building and infrastructure repairs and rehabilitation to the Western Kansas Agricultural Research Center and other sites across the state.

In addition, daily infrastructure maintenance — including repair of streets curbs, sidewalks storm drains, sewer, fire services lines, classroom maintenance, painting and steam/condensate/chilled water lines; utility maintenance of ventilation, water, electrical, heating and cooling systems of multiple buildings; and replacement, restoration and maintenance of building stone exteriors — is ongoing on the Manhattan and Kansas State Polytechnic campuses.