Add as a preferred source on Google

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

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

  • Empowering People Through Smart, Sustainable Campuses

    Sustainability is facing increasing scrutiny, with some questioning its costs and priorities. Yet for universities, it remains an essential driver of resilience, operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that sustainable transformation is not just about reducing energy consumption and emissions to comply with tightening regulations ‒ it’s about creating vibrant, comfortable environments where people can thrive, innovate and connect. For university leadership, this is a complex balancing act, with rising energy costs and limited budgets only adding to the challenge.

  • Three U.S. Universities Install Acre Security Access Control Platform

    Cloud-native physical and digital security solutions company Acre Security recently announced that it has deployed its access control platform at three major universities in the U.S., according to a news release. Acre partnered with Atrium Campus to provide coverage for more than 69,000 students at the University of Virginia (UVA), George Mason University, and Rockhurst University.

  • concentric silhouettes of a human head

    How Physical Space Shapes the Mind: Designing for Better Learning Outcomes

    Research in environmental psychology and neuroscience increasingly suggests that the way a room is designed can influence memory, focus, or even a student's sense of belonging.

Digital Edition