Vanier Football Complex and North Stadium Construction

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The Vanier Complex, which sits at the North end of Bill Snyder Family Stadium Oct. 24, 2014, is dwarfed by the West Stadium Center, which was completed in 2013. Following the 2014 football season, K-State Athletics plans to tear down the present Vanier Complex, which was built in 1972 and renovated in 2007, and start construction on Phase IV of the Bill Snyder Family Stadium master plan, which includes a new Vanier Complex and a completely-enclosed lower stadium bowl. (Parker Robb | Royal Purple)

Kansas State University’s Bill Snyder Family Stadium is in the process of undergoing major physical enhancements. Phase III of the stadium is currently under way. The ground was broken Nov. 29 and substantial completion is set for the 2015 football season. Mortenson & GE Johnson are the official contractors on site for the sports project.

Allen Troshinsky, vice president of operations at Mortenson & GE Johnson, confirmed that with only 232 days left to finish the project – it will be completed before the 2015 season.

“It’s a pretty challenging project with only finite timing during the off-season,” Troshinsky said. “We are absolutely confident that it will be completed on time.”

According to the K-State Sports website, the new Vanier Football Complex will allow the Wildcats “more than double the amount of space for student-athletes and coaches, providing access to world-class resources, equipment and facilities and creating a more cohesive and efficient experience to train, study and compete.”

“From a fan standpoint there is going to be new stands off the north end zone, a new northwest terrace area and a new video board in that northwest corner,” Adam Hardy, construction executive at Mortenson & GE Johnson, said.

In September, Hardy moved with his family to Manhattan from Arizona to work on this project for K-State. Hardy said that he and his team are driven to getting this job done on time for K-State.

“My family and I, we committed to Manhattan and to this job,” Hardy said. “K-State has really welcomed us with open arms, it’s really been a pleasant experience.”

In addition to the north stadium expansion, attached to the stadium will be a new training center that has an Academic Learning Center and a Strength and Conditioning Center for athletes involved in all 16 sports, according to the K-State Sports website.

According to the K-State Sports website, “The completion of Phase III of the Bill Snyder Family Stadium Master Plan will further solidify the university’s place as a prominent force in the Big 12, and aid in attracting, retaining & training high quality recruits from across the nation.”

“The improvements will be beneficial to the university and the football program,” Amy Wellford, senior in human resources, said. “It will allow more K-State fans to attend the games and it will be an amazing experience coming back as an alumni next year to see all the great changes that will have been made to the Bill Snyder Family Stadium.”

The Vanier Football Complex and North Stadium expansion will impact the daily experience of all K-State sports fans and athletes.

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