Investing in a spot we love full well: 5 things to know about the K-State Alumni Center renovation project
By Tim Schrag ’12
K-State Alumni Association
For nearly 25 years, the K-State Alumni Center has been a gathering spot for the K-State
community.
Since it opened in 2002, the center has hosted more than 12,500 events, including
weddings, celebrations, lectures, conferences and more. The center has also served
as the headquarters of the K-State Alumni Association staff, allowing the team to
reach, connect and serve the K-State community and the more than 211,000 living alumni
across the world.
As times, trends and technology needs have changed, it is time for the Alumni Center
to undergo a renovation.
Earlier this year, the Association’s board of directors approved plans for a $10 million
campaign project to renovate the center, as part of a larger overall fundraising campaign
to enhance endowments for the center and Association. $6 million has been identified
to renovate the existing space. An additional goal of $4 million to enhance the building
endowment was also established, as part of a comprehensive campaign to raise $50 million
by 2030 in support of Next-Gen K-State, the university’s strategic plan.
Upgrades to the center’s technology are at the forefront of the project, but K-State
pride and traditions will remain at its heart.
Here are five key things to know about the upcoming project, including architectural
renderings and a timeline:
1. Timeless but updated
When the center opened there was still a need for payphone booths. Additionally, the Hagans Library had several desktop computers that were installed for students to access and during a time when most people didn’t have personal computers. The goal of these upgrades will be to ensure the center has a timeless look and feel but also meets the needs of a next generation land-grant institution.
2. Drawing more events
The K-State Alumni Center currently hosts more than 300 events a year. The Association hopes to capitalize on these renovations to draw in more events, making the space a destination for events around the region and also offer a world-class K-State experience to any campus guests and visiting alumni.
3. Sneak a peek at the designs
Anderson Knight Architects have been hired by the Association as the architect of record for the project. View some initial renderings of the proposed renovations in the photo gallery below.
4. What to expect
Included in this renovation project are upgrades to the center’s lighting, new color
schemes with an emphasis on purple, new furniture, improvements to the Hagans Library,
the Amy Button Renz Family Banquet Room, Barret Wildcat Den and Tointon Great Room.
Technology upgrades including improved video conferencing capabilities and interactive
touch screens and video boards will be added to make the center more appealing and
desirable to use by campus and guests. These displays will showcase K-State history,
traditions, news and more to guests. Design elements and features will be added to
allow guests to capture and share their purple pride.
Additionally, plans will transform the windows in the Tointon Great Room to bi-folding
doors allowing the space to be transitional for indoor/outdoor events to better utilize
the Johnson Terrace.
5. View a timeline
Want to know how you can help?
The project will be funded entirely through philanthropic donations. Anyone who would
like to learn more about the A Spot I Love Full Well campaign or how to contribute can do so at k-state.com/campaign.
— This article has been adapted from our member-exclusive K-Stater magazine. To read
the full version of the article, including thoughts from Association president and
CEO Adam Walker ’04, ’09 and board of directors chair Jeff Ellison ’90, watch for
the upcoming winter 2025 issue of the magazine. Not yet a member? Learn more about
how you can join!