Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Kentucky Names Upcoming Outdoor Development Project

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/22/22

The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently announced that its upcoming Rose Street Development Park Project will be named the Alumni Commons.

The project comes with an estimated cost of $9 million and will feature amenities like outdoor classrooms, a water fountain fixture, lawn seating beneath a terrace, patio and garden areas, and other permanent installations, according to a news release.

“We are excited to announce the naming of this project that we believe will become a great focal point for faculty, staff and students on our campus, as well as for alumni who return to their alma mater for events and celebrations,” said Tom Harris, UK vice president for university relations and interim vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement. “Rose Street funnels pedestrian traffic to and from some of UK’s most iconic structures, and the transformation of this space will elevate and enhance our campus.”

The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees accepted at its June board meeting a $3-million pledge from the UK Alumni Association to set up a capital project fund called the “UKAA Rose Street Plaza Beautification Fund.” The goal of the project, according to the news release, was the demolition, redesign, construction, renovation and expansion of the campus’ Rose Street Plaza. The gift agreement gave naming rights to the Alumni Association, and after consultation with alumni, employees and students, the UKAA Board selected Alumni Commons as the name for the redeveloped space.

“The UK Alumni Association is proud to be a partner in this transformational project for UK,” said Jill Smith, executive director of the UK Alumni Association and associate vice president for alumni engagement. “Alumni Commons will be an exciting and welcoming space for all Wildcats, located right in the heart of our campus. The UK Alumni Association looks forward to collaborating with our campus community to engage students and alumni through this beautiful space.”

The Construction Journal website reports that new amenities and features will include hardscapes, benches, stone masonry planters, seating, a fountain, charging stations and walkway lighting, accent lighting, stone slab benches and stone terrace walls, metal arbor structures, cobblestone pavements, landscaping and sodding.

The project’s estimated completion date is July 2023.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • New Jersey Day School Opens New Science & Entrepreneurship Building

    Saddle River Day School (SRDS) in Saddle River, N.J., recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Dr. Kristen Walsh Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship, according to a news release. The school partnered with DIG Architecture on the 32,000 square foot facility, completed on a 17-month construction timeline in time for the beginning of the new school year.

  • Western Kentucky University, Gilbane Announce “Elevate WKU” Partnership

    Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky., recently announced that it has reached the financial close on a on a public-private partnership (P3) with Gilbane Development, according to a news release.

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • California District Opens New Robotics Center

    The Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) in Cupertino, Calif., recently held a Grand Opening ceremony for a new, district-wide Robotics Center, according to a news release. The 14,500-square-foot facility was designed by Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA); Landmark Constructors served as the builder and Blach Construction as general construction manager.