University of Kentucky Breaks Ground on Agricultural Research Building

The University of Kentucky broke ground in June of 2024 on the $285 million Agricultural Research Building in Lexington. Designed by BHDP Architecture and Flad Architects, the 263,000-sf facility will serve as the central research hub for the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment. Over 60,000 sf of advanced wet and dry laboratories will enable investigators in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences to perform a wide range of analyses, from nutrient assessments of feeds and foods to gene and protein expression studies. Additionally, sophisticated teaching laboratories will offer students enhanced hands-on learning opportunities.

A complex of rooftop greenhouses will accommodate studies in horticulture, plant and soil science, entomology, and plant pathology, complemented by a separate teaching greenhouse with interior and exterior instructional venues. The development will also include classrooms, collaborative office and meeting areas, and a scalable 250-seat auditorium capable of hosting lectures, demonstrations, and events. 

Targeting a minimum of LEED Silver sustainable design certification, the Agricultural Research Building is slated for completion in November of 2026. Flad is also partnering with JRA Architects on the comprehensive renovation of Scovell Hall, a 120-year-old structure that will be reimagined as Martin-Gatton College’s administrative center.