Your Union news
December 14, 2015
Food Trucks Coming to Union
Food trucks will be rolling onto Bosco Student Plaza, starting Monday, January 11. Foodies and students alike will be able to enjoy a diverse mix of delicious cuisines ranging from burgers to barbecue and buffalo to burritos during the Your Union renovation.
The vendors will serve from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. A rotating schedule of trucks will bring a variety of options to campus and the offerings available will change periodically. Full menus and complete schedules of operation will be available on the Union’s website in January. Cat Cash, Union gift cards and conference cards will be accepted at all trucks.
The line up includes:
- Mr. K’s Café and Bar – Manhattan, Kan.
- Dry Creek Buffalo Chuckwagon – Wamego, Kan.
- Roll’n Smoke – Concordia, Kan.
- Tasty Traveler – Manhattan, Kan.
- Los Toritos – Ogden, Kan.
- Big Boyz BBQ – Saint Mary’s, Kan.
- Vista – Manhattan, Kan.
In addition to the food trucks, Subway will continue to operate in the Union Bowling Center and will expand its hours to open at 7 a.m. for breakfast service. Radina’s Coffeehouse & Roastery will operate the Union coffee shop in the current Caribou location, as well as its Leadership Studies location. Einstein Brothers Bagels in Hale Library will also remain in operation.
To accommodate phase two of Your Union renovation, the Union Food Court will close for business Friday. The food court will be replaced with mini-restaurants that will offer a variety of food choices and seating locations when renovation is completed in January 2017.
Frequent updates will be provided through K-State Today, the Union’s Twitter page and website to inform the campus of changes as they take place. For further information, please contact Audrey Taggart-Kagdis, Union director of marketing, at akagdis@k-state.edu.
December 7, 2015
Union Food Court to Close
To accommodate phase two of Your Union renovation, the Union Food Court will close for business the afternoon of Friday, December 18.
The food court will be replaced with mini-restaurants that will offer a variety of food choices and seating locations when the project is completed in January 2017. The operators of these locations have not been finalized, but there will be complementary venues designed to appeal to students, faculty and staff alike.
Subway will continue to operate in the Union Bowling Center and will expand its hours to open at 7 a.m. for breakfast service beginning Monday, January 4. The Cats’ Den convenience store will also be open and fully operational.
Food truck vendors will be arriving on Bosco Student Plaza on Monday, January 11 to provide food service to campus. A full schedule of vendors and operation hours will be available on the Union’s website in January.
Radina’s Coffeehouse & Roastery will operate the Union coffee shop in the current Caribou location beginning Monday, January 11. The Leadership Studies location will reopen that day as well.
Einstein Brothers Bagels in Hale Library is scheduled to resume regular business on Monday, January 11.
As of December 31, 2015, Sodexo will no longer operate catering in the Union. Food customers will have the option to choose from a wide variety of menu options and prices provided through preferred caterers in January 2016. A complete list of information will be available on the Union’s website after the holiday break.
Frequent updates will be provided through the K-State Today, the Union’s Twitter page and website to inform the campus of all changes as they take place. For further information, please contact Audrey Taggart-Kagdis, Union director of marketing, at akagdis@k-state.edu.
September 2, 2015
Your Union celebrates groundbreaking for $25 million renovation
The K-State campus, Manhattan community and surrounding area celebrated the groundbreaking for Your Union renovation Wednesday, September 2 outside the north entrance of the K-State Student Union.
The groundbreaking began at 2:30 p.m. with an opportunity to browse renovation plans and renderings while being entertained by students from the K-State Marching Band. The program featured remarks from President Kirk Schulz, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Dr. Pat Bosco, Union Executive Director Bill Smriga and several student leaders as well as the ceremonial turning of dirt. Guests enjoyed Call Hall ice cream and an appearance from Willie the Wildcat following the program.
“We are excited to break ground on Your Union renovation and celebrate the next phase of our building. For the last three years, students, faculty, staff and administrators have worked with the renovation architects to develop plans that will provide the Union the improvements and enhancements it deserves as the living room of campus,” Smriga said.
The $25 million renovation plan for the Union includes a new south facade with windows, up-to-date retail areas, collaborative student lounge space, consolidated student activities offices, enhanced dining services with a sports pub and expanded coffee house and an innovate tech lounge.
In April 2013, the student body voted to approve the project, including a flat $20 per semester increase to the student privilege fee for students taking classes on the Manhattan campus effective fall 2014. Partnering firms of Bowman Bowman Novick Inc. and Workshop Architects, Inc. were selected in September 2014 to design the final plans for the Union renovation.
Bowman is a local, multi-discipline design firm with offices in Manhattan and Kansas City, Mo. The four principals directing the firm are Brent Bowman, Lorie Doolittle-Bowman, Paul Novick and Patrick Schaub. Their portfolio includes Hale Library, academic buildings, visitor and interpretive centers, religious buildings, residences, office buildings, recreational and athletic facilities and downtown redevelopment.
Workshop, led by Jan van den Kieboom, focuses on creating environments for social interaction for colleges and universities. Kieboom has led planning and design projects for more than 25 colleges and universities nationwide, including the University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin, Oklahoma State University and Northwestern University.
Turner Construction Company was selected to provide construction manager at-risk services throughout the renovation. The company is headquartered in New York City with local offices across the country, including Kansas City. Turner has a long and extensive track record of successfully completing higher education projects, completing more than $5 billion in education construction across the country in the past three years.
Construction is scheduled to begin September 8. The Union will remain open throughout the renovation with varied services and programs relocating within the building during the project.
August 19, 2015
K-State Student Union offices, departments, organizations relocate
In preparation for the upcoming Your Union renovation, several offices, departments and organizations in the K-State Student Union will relocate. Phase one of construction will begin September 8 and will include complete window and roof replacement, upgrades to the south entrance and southwest corner of the building, a new east elevator and renovation of the ground floor.
The K-State Campus Store will consolidate operations in its current location, but will remain open for business throughout construction. Store hours can be found here.
Access to the Union will change throughout the renovation process. Visit this website for building access updates in the future.
Relocated offices, departments and organizations are listed below.
Student Governing Association (SGA) has temporarily relocated to the Konza Room lobby located on the second floor.
Union Human Resources has temporarily moved to the Party Room located in Wabash Cannon Bowl on the lower level.
The Veterans Center has temporarily relocated to the Bluemont Room located on the second floor.
The Wildcat 91.9 radio station has temporarily relocated to 312A McCain Auditorium.
During the week of August 31, the Office of Student Activities and Services(OSAS) and Powercat Financial will relocate to the Cat’s Pause Lounge on the second floor, Student Legal Services will move to the Catering Manager’s office on the second floor and Union IT Services will relocate to Union 208.
The K-State ID Center will move to Stateroom 3 on the first floor September 9.Commerce Bank will be closed September 11-15 as they relocate to Stateroom 1 and 2. Commerce Bank ATMs, online and mobile banking and other community locations will be available.
June 22, 2015
Changes to Union renovation timeline
Due to rain delays with the university's chilled water loop project and the associated challenges with upcoming street closures, the Union Renovation Project will now begin approximately mid-September.
The project was to start with the installation of the piers for the canopy and new balcony on the southwest corner. Demolition work on the south and west facade was to start as well.
Beginning the Union project at the same time as the scheduled closure of 17th Street and Mid-Campus Drive does not allow access for a pier-drilling rig, debris removal or emergency vehicle access to the Union. Additionally, the fire hydrant that feeds the Union is located on the northwest corner of the parking garage, with standpipes on the southeast corner.
Even with the delay many Union departments and tenants will be temporarily relocated in preparation for the renovation. See scheduled below.
| Month | Department/Tenant | Temporary Location |
| July | Veteran's Center | Bluemont Room, second floor |
| Wildcat 91.9 | McCain Auditorium | |
| August | Human Resources | Party Room, lower level |
| September | Commerce Bank | Staterooms 1 and 2, first floor |
| K-State ID Center | Stateroom 3, first floor | |
| OSAS | Cat's Pause Lounge, second floor | |
| Powercat Financial | Cat's Pause Lounge, second floor |
The Copy Center, Greek Affairs Office, Union Program Council and Student Design Center will remain in their current locations until the ground floor renovations are complete.
Final scheduling for the first floor demolition timeline is underway and decision regarding food service options during renovation are still being determined.
April 13, 2015
Changes to come for Union dining
The K-State Student Union announced as of December 31, 2015, Sodexo will no longer operate retail dining and catering in the Union.
The Union Food Court on the first level will be replaced with mini-restaurants that will offer a variety of food choices and seating locations. Subway will continue to operate in the Union Bowling Center, but the Bluemont Room and Salsarita's will discontinue service at the end of the semester. The Bluemont Room will close Saturday, May 16, with a commencement buffet and Salsarita's will close Friday, May 15.
A dining option for upscale, casual dining with table service, a popular choice among faculty and administration, is under evaluation.
Another change will be to provide a choice of caterers for events in the Union requesting food service. Food customers will have the option to choose from a wide variety of menu options and prices provided through preferred caterers. This change will take place in January 2016, and complete information will be available before July 1, 2015.
The Union food service operation will remain the same until the end of the fall semester. The entire first floor will close in January 2016, and the only retail food service operation in the Union will be Subway. Plans are underway to have food trucks on Bosco Student Plaza to provide additional food service during this time.
February 24, 2015
Union to invite local and national restaurants to bid for space in renovated dining area
The K-State Student Union is taking a local approach and is encouraging nearby restaurants to bid for space in the Union as it moves forward with renovations.
The Union is moving to a new dining services operating model that will replace its current food court with six separate restaurants. These restaurants will replace the Union's current contract-managed dining program. Qualified restaurants are encouraged to submit proposals for the new dining model.
"The students have asked for local restaurant options to complement the national brands we already have," said Bill Smriga, executive director of the Union.
The new dining model is part of the $25 million project that will renovate and expand the Union. Union leaders have sought student feedback throughout the project and a 2014 survey found that students wanted more local restaurants.
The Union has issued a request for proposal (RFP) from qualified restaurant bidders for the six restaurants. The closing date is Monday, March 16, 2015.
Targeted food sectors may include:
- Burgers
- Chicken
- Pan Asian
- South of the border
- Barbecue
- Coffee, sandwiches and pastry
- Italian
- Sports bar/grill items
- Soup/salads/wraps
- Smoothie/juice/ice cream/custard (or combination with above)
For more information about the request for proposal, contact Carla Bishop, Kansas State University director of purchasing, at cbishop@ksu.edu.
February 17, 2015
Potential furniture provider for Union renovation visits campus
Sauder Furniture Company mobile showroom will be on campus today from 11am-1pm. The showroom will be parked on the east side of the K-State Student Union on Mid-Campus Drive and features Sauder’s education line of furniture. Students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to view multiple pieces and provide input for the upcoming Union renovation.
Sauder, one of several furniture companies being considered, is a leader in the college and university furniture market and continues to explore creative ways to provide comfortable, long-lasting pieces.
January 21, 2015
Union renovation architects visit, construction manager at-risk services selected
Bowman Bowman Novick Inc. and Workshop Architects Inc., partnering firms selected in September to design the final plans for the K-State Student Union renovation, return to campus Thursday and Friday, Jan. 22 and 23. The firms will be hosting discussions, committee meetings and work sessions to finalize information for the schematic drawings. When the drawings are confirmed, the project moves into the design development phase. A formal timeline and final renderings are expected in the spring.
Joining the architecture team this week will be representatives from Turner Construction Company. Turner was selected to provide construction manager at-risk services throughout Union renovation. The company is headquartered in New York City with local offices across the country, including Kansas City.
Turner has a long and extensive track record of successfully completing higher education projects, not just in the Kansas City area, but also across the United States. They have completed more than $5 billion in education construction across the country in the past three years.
The functions of construction management typically include the following:
- Specifying project objectives and plans
- Maximizing the resource efficiency
- Implementing various operations through proper coordination and control
- Developing effective communications and mechanisms for resolving conflicts
