Topeka ? Kansas University hasn’t even broken ground on its new School of Pharmacy building and the cost is going up.

Higher education officials recently approved a project budget of

$50.7 million, an increase of nearly $5.15 million, according to a memo from the Kansas Board of Regents.

The increase is needed to offset inflation, purchase furnishings and equipment and pay for utility development at the site, the memo states.

During the last legislative session, the state approved a three-year funding plan to issue bonds to build the pharmacy building on West Campus in Lawrence and add a floor to KU’s already existing medical school building in Wichita.

The additional $5.15 million for the new pharmacy school will be paid with private funds, the regents’ memo states.

KU wants to have the Lawrence building under construction by the spring and completed by December 2010. KU has hired Treanor Architects of Lawrence to design the building.

When finished, the number of pharmacy students admitted to KU will increase from 105 a year to 190 a year.

The regents also approved transfer of property from the KU Endowment Association to KU for approximately 3.4 acres of land for the location of the new School of Pharmacy building.

In other business, the regents approved:

¢ Amending KU’s capital improvement request to include the second phase of renovating the Jayhawker Towers, at a cost of $5.2 million, which will be funded with revenue bonds.

¢ Final plans for improvements to the Applegate Energy Center at the KU Medical Center. The $4.2 million project will replace emergency generators, chillers and associated components. The project is part of KU’s plan to take care of deferred maintenance.

¢ A $700,000 plan to renovate Department of Surgery offices at KUMC. The project will be paid with private funds from the KU Endowment Association.

¢ A $621,000 proposal for work at Oliver Hall to replace an air-conditioning system and upgrade electrical service. KU housing funds will be used to pay for the work.