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.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.