Here’s the latest timeline on 4 University of Kentucky construction projects

Monica Kast
·4 min read

Several construction projects on the University of Kentucky’s campus, including major updates to Frazee Hall and an outdoor space along Rose Street, will be completed by the fall semester.

While delays in getting materials have been a concern, renovations to Frazee Hall are on track to be complete by August, said Kevin Locke, associate vice president of capital planning, design and construction at UK. Renovations are also complete on the Chemistry-Physics Building, but traffic remains closed on Rose Street for the completion of an outdoor space.

Supply chain shortages have contributed to some construction delays on campus. Electrical equipment has seen significant delays, at times more than a year for some materials, Locke said. Additionally, a shortage of employees in the construction sector means labor costs have increased as well.

“On a lot of our projects, we are seeing 20% or more increases in the cost of construction over what it was pre-pandemic,” Locke said. “We’re trying to grapple with that. We’re trying to make sure that we have competition on our trade packages so that helps keep the cost down. But from a supply standpoint, we’re still seeing some of the lead time issues affecting us.”

Here are where things stand on several major construction and renovation projects on campus.

Frazee Hall updates

Updates to Frazee Hall included modernizing the existing building, and adding on new construction. The renovation includes a connector to the Gatton Student Center, as well as upgrades to the building’s mechanical and electrical systems. Construction started several years ago, and was originally scheduled to be completed in 2022.

Materials delays pushed the completion date to this August, Locke said. Currently, areas around the building remain blocked off while construction is being finished, including sidewalks and paths between the Student Center, Administration Drive and Frazee Hall.

Once complete, several offices related to student services will move into the building, including Fraternity and Sorority Life, the Office of Student Conduct and Residence Life.

Renovations on Frazee Hall at the University of Kentucky are scheduled to be completed later this year. Parts of campus around the building remain closed while construction is completed.
Renovations on Frazee Hall at the University of Kentucky are scheduled to be completed later this year. Parts of campus around the building remain closed while construction is completed.

Chemistry-Physics Building, Rose Street updates

The Chem-Phys building was originally completed in 1962 and underwent major renovations in the last several years to add new laboratories, offices and collaborations spaces, as well as a new exterior, roof and entrances.

Funkhouser Drive, Library Drive and parts of Rose Street were closed off while construction was ongoing. Renovations of Chem-Phys are now complete, Locke said, but parts of Rose Street remain closed while space along the road is turned into a pedestrian mall.

The outdoor space is scheduled to be done this August, and will give students an outdoor area for gathering and socializing. Locke compared it to an outdoor version of the Gatton Student Center, and said the university envisions it becoming a place where students hang out, attend concerts and gather with others.

“This will be just a wonderful place for students to either stop and enjoy between classes, or to even maybe taught out there in collaborative areas,” Locke said. “The whole idea is kind of reinforcing socialization for students.”

Construction around the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Friday, May 26, 2023.
Construction around the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Friday, May 26, 2023.

Repairs from weather damage

The university is also working to repair parts of campus that were damaged in weather events over the past several months. Winter storms and extreme cold damaged some mechanical systems on campus, which are scheduled to be repaired. In addition to the freezing temperatures, wind also caused damage on campus, which is also being repaired.

The UK Research and Education Center, located in Princeton in Caldwell County, was nearly completely destroyed in the tornadoes that hit Western Kentucky in 2021. The rebuilding of that center is scheduled to start soon, Locke said.

In total, rebuilding the center is estimated to cost $10 million, which will be covered by insurance reimbursements, the university said last year. UK also received $9 million in the state budget for rebuilding costs.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, center right, and officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture joined University of Kentucky leaders to break ground on a new agriculture research building located at UK. The building is expected to open in 2026.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, center right, and officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture joined University of Kentucky leaders to break ground on a new agriculture research building located at UK. The building is expected to open in 2026.

Other projects

UK has several other projects that are scheduled to begin construction or be completed soon. The Still and Maturation buildings, which will be used for the College of Agriculture’s Kentucky Spirits Research Institute program, are expected to be complete by early fall of this year, Locke said.

Construction on the Forage Animal Production Lab, which will house facilities for UK and U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers, is scheduled to begin soon, and expected to be completed in the summer of 2026.

The Reynolds Building, which will be renamed the Gray Design Building and house the College of Design, is expected to be complete by early 2024, Locke said. Last year, UK received a $5 million donation to restore and renovate the building, which was built more than a century ago.