University of Kentucky Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Health Education Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 11/02/23

The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently broke ground on its new Health Education Building, according to a news release. The 500,000-square-foot facility will be the largest academic building in university history and house programs from the colleges of medicine, health sciences and nursing, and public health, as well as the Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education. The building is projected to open in 2026.

The building’s north wing will stand ten stories tall and the south wing eight stories. The news release reports that 77% of its interior space will be for academic, shared, and collaborative spaces for faculty and students; of that, 25% will be classroom space and learning labs, while 34% will be for simulations and experiential learning.

“As a testament to our collaborative spirit, this one facility will contain programs from four colleges and the Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education. We will educate students for a new healthcare future, collaborate through transdisciplinary work, and attract and retain the best and brightest to advance Kentucky,” said University President Eli Capilouto. “Our goal—our promise—is that when our students complete these programs and join the workforce, they are well-equipped to face today’s complex challenges and help all Kentuckians live longer and healthier lives.”

The long-term goal of the building’s construction is to address the shortage of healthcare providers in Kentucky. The facility will allow the College of Medicine to increase enrollment from 138 students per year to 200 per year; allow the College of Nursing to double its enrollment by more than 350 students; allow the College of Public Health to increase its enrollment by more than 30%; and allow the Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education to impact more than 50% more students per year, the news release reports.

“Education is the foundation for how we prepare tomorrow’s leaders, and that is what will propel Kentucky into the future,” said Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman. “This investment will eliminate barriers to success, increase opportunities for students and help us achieve our goal of a quality education for every Kentuckian.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Florida to Start Construction on New Agricultural, Engineering Building

    The University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla., recently announced that it will soon begin construction on a new academic building for the department of agricultural and biological engineering (ABE), according to a news release. The W.W. Glenn Teaching Building is scheduled to begin construction by the end of 2024 and finish by August 2025, in time for the new academic year.

  • San Diego High School Hits Construction Milestone

    Part of a whole-site modernization project at Mira Mesa High School in San Diego, Calif., recently reached a construction milestone. The final steel beam of the new classroom and student services facility was put into place, completing the building’s structural framework.

  • Understanding the Training of School Resource Officers

    SROs are now integral components of nearly every educational system in the country. But instead of being a more passive entity in schools, they have gradually become mentors to students, adding to their support network of teachers, parents, coaches, and other caring adults.

  • Minnesota District Completes Major Renovations, Expansions to High School

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced that it has completed the renovation and expansion of White Bear Lake Area High School, according to a news release. The school’s final addition, a new 845-seat Performing Arts Center, was finished in November.

Digital Edition