A plan to build a new Student-Athlete Success Center and renovate parts of Charles Koch Arena is moving forward.
Wichita-based construction firm Hutton has been awarded for the $10.4 million contract for the Wichita State University project.
The WSU project has two main components. The largest is construction of the Student-Athlete Success Center, a 36,000-square-foot facility devoted to the academic and athletic development of students in WSU’s sports programs. The two-level building, to be located just south of Charles Koch Arena, will expand study and tutoring spaces. WSU’s track and cross country programs will also move to the new facility.
A smaller component of the project is renovation of administrative offices inside Charles Koch Arena to create more space for the men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball programs.
Groundbreaking is expected to take place in June, with completion of the project in July 2020. With the awarding of a contract, Hutton will be able to work closely at the front end with the project architect, GLMV, to develop a design that will produce the best result for the overall cost.
Officials with Wichita State, the WSU Foundation and WSU Athletics selected Hutton, one of six construction companies that presented proposals for the project in March. The contract was awarded after WSU Athletics and the WSU Foundation raised $13.8 million in private funds for the project. Funds raised in excess of the $10.4 million contract will cover other costs, such as architectural design, interior design and equipment.
The project is completely funded through donor contributions, and the construction contract is through the WSU Foundation.
This is the first construction job for Hutton on the WSU campus. Among its recent projects have been a large-scale addition and renovation at Koch Industries, completion of the B-29 Doc Hangar & Education Center in west Wichita, and a complete restoration to Union Station in downtown Wichita. With about 275 employees, Hutton has been in operation since 1992.