University of Kentucky - America's next Top 20 University!

[Ian604]

When the University of Kentucky is mentioned most people immediately think of either UK Basketball, Lexington's Rupp Arena, or since it's more or less unknown outside the basketball world they may even wonder "where in Louisville is that exactly?" All that is going to change. (UK is in Lexington by the way.)

A few years ago the Commonwealth of Kentucky decided that UK should be ranked in the Top 20 Public Universities in the U.S. by the year 2020.

After several years of behind the scenes improvements in staffing and infrastructure work, some exciting projects are starting to surface that will change the face of Lexington forever.


Housing and Staffing

UK needs to add 7,000 new students and 625 new faculty.

Four new residence halls have already been constructed to help accomodate this goal.

This is a night shot of one of the new dorms.


The University also changed its hiring policies in order to not only attract more faculty better high quality faculty.


Coldstream Research Campus:

Research and innovation are key to the plan of becoming Top 20 and the long dormant UK/Coldstream Research campus is beginning to bubble with activity.

Three new construction projects adding hundreds of high tech jobs are underway.

Extream Software will begin construction soon on their new facility


The Lexhold Center is under construction. Twin 5 story buildings are already mostly leased with small to midsize Technology and Research companies.


The CPST is a state of the art Pharmacutical manufacturing facility. It was completed and is now open. Sorry no completed photos, only renderings.


Along with these additions UK has completed a four story research building on its main campus and plans are in the works for several more on the new medical campus!


Healthcare:

Construction is underway on a new 1,000,000sf. hospital. The new hospital will bring more than 1,000 new jobs to the city along with the best in new cutting edge healthcare. The new hospital will have a four story base with two patient towers rising from the base for a total of ten floors.



The old UK Hospital will be renovated or razed.

Along with the new hospital an entirely new medical campus will be constructed accross the street with six new classroom buildings and several new research buildings!



New housing in the area:

With the prospect of the thousands of new jobs coming online over the next decade at UK several residential infill projects have been completed, begun construction, or are in the planning phases.

S. Broadway:

845 people moved into a new apartment complex last year that included a walkway over a set of railroad tracks directly into UK's campus.

Shelbourne Plaza is in the site prep phase and will have 200 rental units and ground floor retail.
Rendering:


Here is a photo of site prep happening at Shelbourne Plaza with UK's Patterson Office Tower in the background to give you an idea of their proximity. POT actually looks a little further away than it actually is.



Plans have been submitted for a 6 story mixed use project across the street from Shelbourne plaza. No rendering or word on number of units yet.

South Hill:

Several abandoned tobacco warehouses have come down to make way for townhomes in the area immediately west of UK's north campus.

Center Court is a medium sized mixed use development, right now however the number of units escapes me.
Rendering:

Progress:



The Kimball House is a collection of Victorian buildings at Limestone and Maxwell. It's being converted to condos and an upscale spa.

Two other tobacco warehouses have been converted to loft apartments directly across the street from CenterCourt. The combination of the two warehouses would equal more than 150 units.

MLK Condos:

A 3 story, 53 unit condo development was completed last year.


Also what will possibly be Lexingotn's largest infill project since this downtown revival began will be located on top of the downtown transit center parking lots. The two plats of land for the development straddle MLK two blocks north of campus. Details are still forthcoming.

MLK is planned to be a major residential strip to support the campus.



Lexington is changing and UK is one part of the equation that's helping to fuel that change. Whether UK is a top 20 University by the year 2020 or not Lexington will be a radically different place because of their efforts.


Hope you enjoyed this profile!

[eweezerinc]

Niiiice. I knew UK was aiming high, but this is more than I was expecting. Very smart steps for the school and the city.

[Lexy]

That's my school! GO BIG BLUE!!!!

[BalWash]

Top 20 public is very different from top 20 overall.
Nonetheless, I'm glad to see Kentucky is devoting money to one of the most deserving areas, education.

[econ_tim]

I'm applying for a job there, so I'm glad to hear they are expanding the faculty so dramatically.

[Ian604]

That's cool, what are you applying for?

[krosejr]

Be sure to read the post from the Sunday paper about reaching this goal...in the Lexington Dev. forum that Ian604 posted!!! Great stuff for Lexington and all of Kentucky!

[Ian604]

UK seeks changes to boost research and economic development
By Art Jester
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER


University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. wants to reorganize UK's administration to boost its efforts in research and economic development.

On Tuesday, Todd will present to UK's Board of Trustees for its approval a two-part plan for reorganization:

• All university research would fall under the direct authority of the new provost, or chief academic officer, Kumble Subbaswamy.

• UK will create an Office of Economic Development and Commercialization that will report directly to Todd.

In a release, Todd called the proposed reorganization part of UK's plan to become a Top 20 public research university and a "catalyst for a new commonwealth."

"Moving Kentucky's economy forward by conducting cutting-edge research and then translating that research we do in labs into viable commercial products and businesses is a critical part of that mission," Todd said in a written statement.

Previously, research fell under the purview of a vice president, or more recently, an executive vice president.

However, Wendy Baldwin, the former executive vice president for research, left UK to take a job with the Population Council in New York City. She had reported directly to Todd.

"We've had tremendous success in research under Dr. Baldwin's leadership, with five years of research expenditures in excess of $200 million, including $290 million last year," Todd said.

The proposed Office of Economic Development and Commercialization will focus on helping university research make its way into the marketplace, according to UK.

The office will work with federal, state and local economic development officials and will seek potential investors for startup companies that would capitalize on UK research.

UK noted a report issued last month by the Milken Institute, an economic think tank in Santa Monica, Calif. The report ranked universities by their ability to transform research into economic development and business enterprises.

UK ranked 23rd among public universities in the United States and 35th among all U.S. universities in its success at transforming research into technology and commercial activities.

[BhamDKH]

I think this thread should be renamed "...Top 20 Public University" rather than just top 20... MUCH bigger difference.

[Ian604]

Agreed. Sorry for the confusion, i made the change for the top post anyway, it wouldnt let me change the thread title..

[BhamDKH]

These building projects look great though! Even if they don't get to where they want, I think UK should still be applauded for trying to think bigger and improve their academics as much as possible. A good public university can really do a lot for a state so congrats to UK for trying to take improve itself and Kentucky by extension.