Construction begins Friday on the DeBruce Center, a three-story building that will house the original rules for basketball, typed up by the game’s inventor, James Naismith, in 1892.
The DeBruce Center will be connected to Allen Fieldhouse by a second-story walkway.
University of Kansas associate athletics director Jim Marchiony says the rules will be part of a display that tells the story of the sport of basketball and KU’s connection to it.
"The rules will provide a real destination point for visitors not only regionally, but from around the country," Marchiony says. "It will add to the aura of Lawrence and KU being the cradle of college basketball."
KU alumnus David Booth bought Naismith’s rules three years ago at an auction for more than $4 million. He wants to display them at the university.
The new $18 million building will also house a student activity center, retail dining, training facilities and an event space. It’s expected to open next year.
