UK Research Campus Breaks Ground on Residential Village

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/14/21

On the University of Kentucky Coldstream Research Campus in Lexington, Ky., officials recently broke ground on a new residential village for the campus’ researchers and workforce. The 260-unit, multi-family complex, to be named FIFTEEN51 Apartments, is scheduled to open its doors to residents in spring 2022. Construction is expected to be fully complete by late 2022.

“At the University of Kentucky, we are strategically and thoughtfully expanding both our campus and our relationships with partners in Lexington and beyond,” said University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto. “FIFTEEN51 will create a new, workforce-friendly environment in the Lexington community. We remain focused on creating environments like this to support the research enterprise, economic opportunities and our community. The Coldstream Research Campus is a product of that effort. It’s another way we earn our way forward, partner for success and ultimately serve as the University for Kentucky.”

Indianapolis-based Cityscape Residential will serve as the facility’s ground lessee, constructing and operating the 13-acre complex.

“Cityscape was honored to be selected during the RFP process, and we are excited to be breaking ground on this landmark community within the Coldstream Research Campus,” said Brian Evans, vice president of Cityscape Residential. “As the first residential village development within the campus, FIFTEEN51 will offer a luxury housing option to help drive the high-tech trajectory of the campus. We look forward to welcoming our first residents in the spring of 2022.”

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council worked with the university in 2018 to establish a mixed-use tax increment financing district on the campus. By changing Coldstream’s zoning definition and making state and local tax incentives available, the city of Lexington has played an integral part in the campus’s project, said the university.

“The city has 250 acres open for economic development on or near Coldstream, and we are focusing on attracting high-tech companies,” said Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton. “This new residential village will make Coldstream even more attractive to these companies.” City officials anticipate that the residential village will increase the demand for space among research and development companies.

“The goal at many research parks nationwide is to create a dynamic live-work-play-innovate environment, and this residential development helps us accomplish this at Coldstream,” said George Ward, executive director of the Coldstream Research Campus. “I like to use the term ‘social infrastructure’ to describe the amenities necessary to attract young professionals and an innovative workforce. This development will activate Coldstream 24/7 and make it an even more attractive location for high-tech organizations.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Integrates New Cleaning Technology

    The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently installed a new cleaning system designed to improve cooling efficiency on campus, according to a news release. The Facilities Management’s Utilities and Energy Management Unit installed new chiller tubes into two of the chillers at the university’s Central Utility Plant.

  • Agualta STEAM Engine

    Outdoor Learning Spaces and Biophilic Design Create Community in East Los Angeles

    Griffith STEAM Magnet Middle School's Agualta STEAM Engine blends education, community, and nature through its adaptable design.

  • Key Considerations for Office-to-Higher-Education Facility Conversions

    Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, office-to-alternative-use conversions have become a recurring subject of urban development discourse. Office utilization rates across major U.S. cities remain below 50%, with vacancy rates exceeding 27% in San Francisco and 16% in New York. Higher education facilities present programmatic and spatial use cases that align readily with the typical characteristics of commercial office buildings.

  • Singlewire Software Report Reveals Gaps in K–12 School Entrance Security

    Single Software recently released its first-ever School Entrance Security Report based on more than 500 responses from U.S. school staff members. According to a news release, the findings highlight a gap between K–12 leaders’ wishes for school safety and how safe the schools actually are, as well as the challenges facing students and staff in that goal.

Digital Edition