|
News from |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
CONTACT: |
||||||||||
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 23, 2008 No. 08-106 PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY TO DEDICATE JOINT UNIVERSITY/KANSAS NATIONAL
GUARD FACILITY
An idea that began more than a decade ago will become reality on Saturday, Sept. 27, when the Adjutant General’s Department and Pittsburg State University dedicate a new National Guard armory/university student center on the university campus. This is the first time an armory has been located on a university campus in Kansas, and is one of only a few such armories anywhere in the nation. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at the Pittsburg State University Student Recreation Center and Kansas National Guard Armory, 2001 S. Rouse Street. Speakers for the dedication include Gov. Kathleen Sebelius; Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the adjutant general; Dr. Tom Bryant, president of Pittsburg State University; Dr. Brad Hodson, vice president for University Advancement; Donna Shank, chairwoman of the Kansas Board of Regents; Pittsburg Mayor Pam Henderson; Chaplain (Col.) Donald Davidson, Kansas Army National Guard and Eddie Penner, president of the Pittsburg State Student Government Association. “Projects like this are a strong example of the cooperative spirit Kansans should see with all levels of government,” said Sebelius. “This facility will benefit not only the Kansas National Guard and the students of Pittsburg State University, but the Pittsburg community at large.” “It’s an honor to be part of history in the making as we dedicate the first ever Kansas National Guard armory on a university campus and see firsthand the many benefits of this unprecedented partnership,” said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting. “We appreciate the vision of the university leadership and we are grateful for all of the community support of the Kansas National Guard. We hope this facility will be a model for the future.” “This project is an example of how creative thinking can yield great benefits,” said Bryant. “Because we were willing to do things in a different way, our students benefit both academically and physically and their total university experience is enhanced. At the same time, the state and the community also reap rewards.” The Pittsburg State facility is the first joint project of this type between the Kansas National Guard and a non-Department of Defense agency. Of the approximately $15 million in construction costs, the armory portion of approximately $6.5 million is being paid on a 75 percent federal/25 percent state cost-share basis. The Kansas National Guard will utilize 39,000 square feet of the $15 million facility for offices, locker rooms, kitchen and training and support areas, plus an exterior compound and maintenance bay. The new facility replaces the old Pittsburg armory at 1506 N. Walnut. The armory is home to the 772nd Engineer Company and Detachment 1, 226th Engineer Company, both units of the Kansas National Guard’s 891st Engineer Battalion. Pittsburg State will occupy 58,000 square feet of the new building. The university’s portion will be used for offices for the Departments of Health, Human Performance and Recreation and Military Science/Reserve Officer Training Corps, along with the PSU Student Recreation Center. The recreation center will include cardio equipment, free weights, an aerobics room and gymnasiums. Joint use areas will include an assembly hall, fitness center and classroom spaces. Construction began in November 2006. Horst Terrill & Karst Architects,
P.A., Topeka and Overland Park was the architect on this project. -30- |
||||||||||