photo by: Sara Shepherd

Oliver Hall, at 1815 Naismith Drive on the University of Kansas campus, is pictured Monday, Feb. 20, 2017.

Improvements to two streets on campus, the demolition of a former residence hall and renovations to the Kansas Memorial Union are just some of the University of Kansas’ upcoming capital improvement projects.

On Wednesday, the Kansas Board of Regents unanimously approved the capital improvement requests of the six state universities. For KU, that could mean about $20 million in capital improvements for fiscal year 2022 and nearly $40 million in fiscal year 2023.

In fiscal year 2022, which will begin on July 1, KU plans to demolish Oliver Hall, begin reconstruction of Sunnyside Avenue and Naismith Drive and improve Templin Residence Hall, among other projects.

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, KU’s spokesperson, said that if funding allows, the demolition of Oliver Hall is projected to start after the university’s commencement in 2022. Following the building’s demolition, the site would be turned into a lawn area, she said. The demolition is expected to cost $1.7 million, according to KU’s capital improvements request, and will be paid for by housing funds and parking fees.

The plans for reconstruction of Naismith Drive and Sunnyside Avenue include replacing existing asphalt pavement with concrete from the intersection with Sunflower Road on the east and extending west to Naismith Drive and north to 15th Street, Barcomb-Peterson said.

Additional work will include replacing existing curbs and gutters, sidewalks, improving stormwater management and replacing aged utilities. Trees and other landscaping may be added, street and pedestrian lighting will be upgraded, and crosswalk locations and configurations could be improved. The improvements, which will be funded by parking fees and KU’s portion of the Educational Building Fund, are projected to cost nearly $7 million total and are anticipated to be paid off between fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2026. KU plans to spend $660,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $1.5 million in fiscal year 2023.

As for Templin Residence Hall, improvements will include remodeling bathrooms and plumbing infrastructure and improving the mechanical and electrical infrastructure systems, among other improvements. Those improvements are expected to cost $2.8 million and will come from housing funds and private gifts.

KU was unable to provide the Journal-World with many details about two capital improvement projects listed on its request: renovations to Allen Fieldhouse and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Barcomb-Peterson said there would be improvements to the fan experience areas within Allen Fieldhouse, but that details are still in draft mode and will be shared when finalized. As for Memorial Stadium, Barcomb-Peterson said improvements continue to be evaluated.

According to the request, $11.75 million and $7.5 million in renovations are planned for Allen Fieldhouse in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, respectively. Additionally, $6.2 million in renovations are planned for Memorial Stadium in FY 2023. Both projects are to be funded by Kansas Athletics and private gifts, but Barcomb-Peterson called them “potential projects” and said funding was still being raised.

Other capital improvement projects for fiscal year 2023 include renovations to Kansas Memorial Union and the second Integrated Science Building, which the Journal-World wrote about in late April. Barcomb-Peterson said at the time that the construction of the nearly $200 million facility would depend on securing funding, but the announcement still appalled a group of faculty members concerned about KU’s budget.

As for the union, Barcomb-Peterson said the project was dependent on funding, but that it would be a restoration of aging infrastructure.

“This would include bathroom upgrades, fire egress correction and plumbing/electrical/HVAC replacement,” she wrote. “The project would produce utility savings of approximately 20% and prevent failures that could close operations.”

The project is anticipated to cost about $21.7 million total, with $17.4 million being spent in fiscal year 2023. Funding for the project will come from union and student fees.

A full list of KU’s capital improvements requests can be found on pages 58 and 59 of the Kansas Board of Regents’ May 19 and May 20 meeting agenda, available at kansasregents.org.