Kansas State University

Deferred maintenance project awards

Submitted by Ethan Erickson

Kansas State University will address deferred maintenance projects totaling more than $11 million utilizing one-time funds appropriated from the Kansas Legislature in addition to one-to-one match funding provided by colleges and units. The projects will address much-needed maintenance and upgrades to aging university facilities.

Following the university's call for deferred maintenance project proposals, 17 proposals from across the university totaling $19.8 million were submitted by deans and vice presidents. After review and recommendations from the Campus Planning and Development Advisory Committee, the following projects were approved.

• College of Agriculture — Waters Hall first-floor remodel. Transformation of the first floor of Waters Hall into a welcoming student recruitment space and replacement of outdated heating and cooling systems; $475,000 of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $950,000.

• College of Agriculture — Entomology teaching lab improvements. Renovations to the entomology department teaching laboratories to provide up-to-date facilities and replacement of outdated heating and cooling systems; $125,383 of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $250,883.

• College of Agriculture — Gardens Quinlan Visitor Center repairs. Improvements to public areas and displays at The Gardens Quinlan Visitor Center and repair of damage caused by severe water leaks; $45,000 of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $95,000.

• College of Architecture, Planning and Design — 3001 Seaton Hall classroom renovation. Improvements to the functionality and capacity of 3001 Seaton Hall to create a flexible critique/classroom space. $308,000 of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $616,000.

• College of Arts and Sciences — Bluemont Hall animal care facility improvements. Replacement of the heating and cooling system in the psychological sciences department animal care facility on the fifth floor of Bluemont Hall with a variable air volume air handling system to address humidity, heating and cooling issues; $450,000 of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $900,000.

• College of Arts and Sciences — J.R. Macdonald Laboratory improvements. Replacement of the current specialized laser lab cooling system and internal water chiller systems by connecting both systems to the campus chilled water system to provide adequate environmental controls for the laser labs and to sufficiently cool the lasers. $333,250 of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $666,500.

• College of Education — Bluemont Hall first-floor renovation. Relocation of College of Education student success functions, including college leadership and the Center for Student Success, from the basement to the first floor of Bluemont Hall to improve student access and recruitment; $1.15 million of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $3.7 million.

• College of Engineering — West Seaton elevator refurbishment. Refurbishment of the elevator in the west portion of Seaton Hall to increase reliability, safety and access; $65,000 of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $130,000.

• College of Health and Human Sciences — Science of Food lab renovation. Remodel of the Science of Food lab and kitchens in Justin Hall to increase utilization, update equipment and support current programmatic needs. $227,500 of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $455,000.

• College of Health and Human Sciences — Personal financial planning classroom. Upgrades to the design and technology in 329 Justin Hall to create a high-quality classroom to support the personal financial planning department; $211,977 of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $423,977.

• Division of Information Technology and College of Engineering — Universitywide and engineering data center renovation. Improvements to address cooling and humidity control, power redundancy and backup power availability and reliability. $1.5 million of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $3.3 million.

• Vice President for Research — Rack cage washer replacement. Installation of a new cage washer in Coles Hall to support animal research; $150,000 of deferred maintenance funds awarded; total estimated project cost is $300,000.

These projects support the university and Kansas Board of Regents' initiatives of improving space and classroom utilization, improving facility condition index ratings, aligning with strategic enrollment management, research or service missions and addressing life safety ADA or code issues.