Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University is engineering for the future by expanding its facilities.

The College of Engineering is planning a phase four expansion to add 107,000 square feet of instructional, research and office space to the current engineering complex. The new facility will enhance the educational experience for the college's more than 3,500 students and 300 faculty and staff. It will open in the fall of 2015. A groundbreaking for the new facility will occur at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, in the atrium between Rathbone and Fiedler halls.

"Excitement is growing as we get ready to begin construction on phase four of the engineering complex," said Gary Clark, interim dean of the College of Engineering. "The passage of the University Engineering Initiative Act by our state legislators showed just how important our programs, faculty and students are to the state of Kansas and its economy."

The University Engineering Initiative Act aims to increase the number of engineering graduates by more than 50 percent in the state of Kansas during a 10-year period. As Kansas State University becomes a Top 50 public research university by 2025, the new facility will help recruit and retain high-quality students while establishing nationally recognized research programs and strengthening corporate partnerships.

The current engineering complex includes Rathbone, Durland and Fiedler halls. The new facility will be at the northeast corner of College Heights Road and Denison Avenue, across from Ahearn Field House.

The new building will have a flexible environment for interdisciplinary learning and collaboration. It will include classrooms; teaching and research laboratories; an auditorium; faculty and administrative offices; and student gathering areas. It will also bring all eight departments in close proximity and house the computing and information sciences department and the electrical and computer engineering department. Rathbone Hall will be remodeled so that the front doors open to a reception center, a 250-seat auditorium and a conference room to meet the needs of students, faculty and alumni.

"The phase four engineering expansion program will have a great impact student within the College of Engineering," said Brendan Bishop, senior in mechanical engineering, Parkville, Mo., and president of the Engineering Student Council. "This facility expansion will give students access to additional labs, study areas and expand the capabilities of our design teams. This project will contribute to the already extensive resources available to all students within the engineering program and be a great addition for our college."

The new space also will  house the college's student design teams and organizations. Because of its location and direct access to the Collaborative Learning Center, the new space will bring students close to the Scholars Assisting Scholars Program.

"Our solid record of academic achievement in educating the next generation of engineering, computer science, and construction science and management graduates will only be enhanced through this building expansion that will provide additional facilities for our world-class research, teaching and learning experiences here in the college," Clark said.

The estimated cost for the project is $40 million, which includes design and construction costs; furniture, fixtures and equipment; and associated fees and contingencies. The project will be primarily funded through private donations, and a capital campaign is underway. Alumni Carl and Mary Ice have provided the first gift for the building.

"As proud alumni of Kansas State, we have confidence in the leadership of the university and its future," said Carl Ice, a College of Engineering alumnus. "This expansion will help Kansas State reach its 2025 vision." 

Construction of the project will be accelerated though the issuance of bonds to be serviced through the University Engineering Initiative Act and construction contributions.

The project architects and construction managers were selected in April through an open selection process. The contracted architects are Perkins+Will, who teamed with Nevius Serig Palmer Architecture and Affiliated Engineers Inc. The construction managers are McCownGordon Construction.

More information about the project is available at http://www.engg.ksu.edu/phaseiv/

For information about the capital campaign and naming opportunities for the project, contact Lori Rogge, director of development for the College of Engineering, at 785-532-7539, lorir@found.ksu.edu; or Danielle Young, development coordinator for the College of Engineering, at 785-532-7609, danielley@found.ksu.edu.