Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Kentucky Breaks Ground on Agricultural Research Facility

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/17/24

The University of Kentucky recently celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new, $285-million Agricultural Research Building on its campus in Lexington, Ky., according to a university news release. The building will measure in at 263,000 square feet and has an estimated completion date of November 2026. The university partnered with BHDP Architecture and Flad Architects for the project’s design.

“This groundbreaking marks a transformative step in supporting the discovery that will help protect and grow the Commonwealth’s multi-billion-dollar agriculture industry, present in communities throughout Kentucky’s 120 counties,” said Eli Capilouto, University of Kentucky President. “We are deeply grateful to the Kentucky General Assembly for investing in the work we do to benefit Kentucky agriculture and ensuring a safe, resilient and abundant food supply.”

The building will play home to the university’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Department of Entomology, Department of Horticulture, and Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Amenities will include wet and dry teaching and research laboratories, as well as rooftop greenhouses for research in fields like animal science, entomology, horticulture, plant sciences, plant pathology, and soil science, the news release reports.

The labs will facilitate research and analysis into topics like protein expression studies and nutrient assessments of feeds and foods. In addition to the research greenhouses, a separate teaching greenhouse will play home to courses like Introduction to Floral Design and Introduction to Plant Identification, according to the news release.

“Having new facilities will greatly enhance our equine, companion and food animal research programs that strive to optimize animal production, health and management, reduce environmental impacts and enhance the quality of food products and their safety,” said Department of Animal and Food Sciences Chair Scott Radcliffe, Ph.D.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • Tennessee Middle School Completes Health, Life Safety Renovations

    The Giles County Board of Education in Pulaski, Tenn., recently announced that a series of renovation projects has been completed at Bridgeforth Middle School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers and Brindley Construction to modernize building systems at one of the district’s oldest schools.

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.