Renovation of an educational facility in Pittsburg, Kansas. Conceptual plans call for the renovation of a educational facility.

In 2007, the Kansas Polymer Research Center (KPRC) moved into the Tyler Research Center, a 22,000 SF stand-alone research building constructed expressly for polymer research. By 2012, PSU was successful in securing state funding to establish a new academic program in polymer chemistry. Continued growth resulted in rebranding to the National Institute for Materials Advancement (NIMA). Then, in 2022, PSU received approval to expand the facility to create and equip NIMA's Prove-Out Facility. The university hired a design team via an RFQ to develop a program for KBOR approval and potential construction. The programming process generated momentum and inspired NIMA and its partners to increase the original budget from $8M up to approximately $13M for phase 1 an anticipated 22,000 SF phase 1 and include a nearly $9M 13,650 SF phase 2 providing the potential for what may end up being a phased $22M total project within the next five years. PSU is pursuing an aggressive construction schedule for phase 1 in order to avoid additional construction escalation and start serving students, local, and regional entrepreneurs and businesses with this much-needed Prove-Out Facility. The project is included in the state's 2027 - 2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). As of October 24, 2025, further details have not yet been identified. *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.