The RoundHouse | 12/8/2018 10:51:00 AM

It is time for Eck Stadium to change again to help keep pace with college baseball's building boom.
 
Construction on a multi-sport strength and conditioning facility is expected to begin in January or February, associate athletic director Brad Pittman said. The project will also include moving Wichita State's dugout, locker room, offices and operations to third-base side of the stadium, all connecting with the Bombardier Learjet Indoor Practice Facility.
 
"It will give us much more space," coach Todd Butler said. "Our players live here, and to see this phase happen is a big deal to our players and program."
 
Pittman said SJCF Architecture's drawings are in the hands of the state of Kansas for review. If approved, he foresees putting the project out to bid for a contractor by mid-January. He wants to break ground before the baseball season starts in mid-February. Pittman's goal is to finish the $3.5 million project by the fall of 2019.
 
"We've secured the funds to start building," said Brent Kemnitz, assistant athletic director. "People will see progress as the season goes on this spring."
 
It is the first major addition to Eck Stadium since 2009, when the Bombardier Learjet Indoor Practice Facility and AstroTurf field debuted. In 2016, a $1.2 million scoreboard replaced the old one in left field.
 
"There's been so many generous people that see the benefit of this," Kemnitz said. "It's been very invigorating to get out into the community and visit with people about Shocker baseball."
 
WSU Athletics, in partnership with the WSU Foundation, are raising money for weights, training equipment, lockers and furniture to fill the new spaces. Softball will also use the strength and conditioning facilities.
 
"All the things that will make the facility state of the art from an amenities standpoint," Kemnitz said. "We're hopeful that the realization that this is definitely happening, and people will watch it being built, will motivate people to get involved."
 
The improvements come as top college baseball programs continue to improve facilities. Sport-specific weight rooms are standard at many schools. In March, Oklahoma State announced plans for a $60-million stadium to open in 2020 and replace Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. In 2017, the University of Kansas included plans for an overhaul of Hoglund Ballpark in its $350 million facilities campaign.
 
"You go around the country and everybody has state-of-the-art facilities," Kemnitz said. "The completion of (this project) will keep us at the top end."
 
Meanwhile, fundraising for improvements to Charles Koch Arena continues.
 
The $13.8 million project to build the Student-Athlete Success Center is in the design development phase, coming after the hiring of GLMV Architecture. Pittman said the project could go to bid by June, with groundbreaking later in the summer. 
 
Wichita State has $12.4 million in pledges for the project and must have all funds pledged before breaking ground.
 
"As we enter the final stretch of the fundraising, we look forward to continuing efforts to secure our goal for the remaining support needed to bring the Student-Athlete Success Center and Charles Koch Arena renovations to fruition," said Alex Johnson, director of development. "We are grateful for our incredible alumni and donors, who demonstrate their commitment and generosity through supporting the athletic facility improvements."
 
The Student-Athlete Success Center will be built adjacent to Charles Koch Arena. The building will house an expanded study hall, academic offices, administrative offices, track and golf officesand a track and field weight room. Moving sports to the Student-Athlete Success Center will allow men's and women's basketball and volleyball to double their office space on Charles Koch Arena's second floor. All three sports will gain a conference room and offices for their directors of operations and others.
 
"The enhancements to our facilities will impact all Shocker programs by providing a first-class collegiate experience," Johnson said. 
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.