What remained exclusively in the heads of several Kansas University athletic visionaries for more than a year now is starting to be developed into a more tangible form — though it’s still early in the process.

A $10 million donation from former KU basketball player Tom Kivisto and his wife, Julie, last month toward the construction of football facilities adjacent to Memorial Stadium has sent the plan to the next step — both with potential donors and with ideas on where different pieces of the complex could go.

“Certainly the project is much more on the front burner now than it was before (Kivisto) made his contribution,” associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said.

An artist’s rendering of the facility obtained by the Journal-World shows parts of the project spread out all across the south side of Memorial Stadium, while the cherished view of Campanile hill remains intact.

Though it’s no done deal — Marchiony said that while ideas have been tossed around, it’s too premature to know exactly where anything is going to go — the illustration shows the complex as containing two separate buildings and a practice field. Offices would be located near the southeast corner of Memorial Stadium, close to the visitor’s locker room, while a large indoor workout facility is possible between the stadium and Potter Lake on the west side of the hill.

This rendering shows a proposed complex of two buildings and a practice field. Offices and the practice field would be near the southeast corner of Memorial Stadium, while a workout facility is on the west side.

A practice field would be next to the offices, perhaps close to Mississippi Street.

Marchiony stressed that nothing is set in stone, but the lack of available land around the stadium may make parking spaces a casualty when the necessary funding allows construction to begin. To answer the demand for parking, one idea KU officials have thought up is digging into the steep hill just west of Memorial Stadium and building a parking facility.

“That’s one of the options that has been talked about,” Marchiony said. “It’s an idea that’s been discussed, but we’re a ways away from deciding where it’s going to be.”

KU now is estimating the cost of the project to approach $40 million, after initial guesses ranged from $25 million to $30 million. With Kivisto’s pledge, which was announced Sept. 26, KU has raised $18 million for the complex.

• KU hoops alumnus makes football pledge (09-27-05)
• Football facility funding growing (03-26-05)
• KU facility still waiting for big-time donor (01-05-05)
• Football facility concern tackled (12-17-04)

The initial idea was for the complex to include locker rooms, a weight room, meeting rooms, a training room, offices and a practice field for the football team. Kansas is one of the only schools in the Big 12 lacking centralized football operations.

In the weeks following the eight-figure donation, Marchiony said the interest in the facility has increased noticeably, though it hasn’t caused any other donors to pull the trigger — not yet, anyway.

“People are receptive. People understand what we’re trying to get done,” Marchiony said. “Tom and Julie’s gift has put an increased spotlight on it, and it’s been very positive. We’ve just got to keep working on it.”