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University of Kentucky

GATTON COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

LOCATION

Lexington, KY

PROJECT COST
$65,000,000.00

SIZE

205,780 sq ft

TYPE

Renovation and Expansion

STATUS

Completed 2015

ARCHITECT 

Ross Tarrant Architects

CONTRACTOR

Skanska

A $65.0 M, 3-story renovation and expansion to the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky. The addition includes a 4-story atrium, an auditorium, lecture halls, events room, classrooms, and offices. This project modernized the facility for the University’s prestigious Business College.

Structurally, several challenges are addressed.  First, the steel framed building addition is constructed in an area with high karst potential and over an existing cavern formed by limestone solutioning. This cavern also functions as an underground storm water retention basis for a large area of the campus. The ground floor structure is designed to span over the cavern, and is supported by steel-cased drilled piers 
extending deep into the ground, bearing on bedrock. Secondly, the architectural design called for minimal columns to keep classrooms, atrium, and other areas free of intrusion. Special consideration was given to vibration control while also minimizing structure depth. Another challenge addressed is the addition’s placement against two existing buildings (constructed at different times and of different construction types) that did not share floor levels. While expansion joints are required between the buildings, the spaces flow into each other such that the experience of what is actually three separate building structures is quite seamless.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

+  LEED Gold Certification    

+   Central atrium with social stair

+   500-seat auditorium

+   Technology-enhanced environment

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