University of Kentucky Student Center Transformation

CREATING A NEW CAMPUS LIVING ROOM

Eli Capilouto President

When the University of Kentucky’s Student Union Building first opened in 1938, the Cincinnati Enquirer described it “as swanky as the most luxurious country club.” Since that time, the striking facility hosted dinners, dances and public events – from Louis Armstrong, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett concerts to Roots author Alex Haley, journalist Alistair Cooke and Vice President Al Gore.

Today, we are transforming this facility – the “living room” of campus and hub of activity for our community – into a grand Student Center. Our vision is to create a shared space for the Wildcat family to connect, learn and forge friendships that shape the college experience and life beyond our university.

We are building a space where public discourse occurs; ideas are challenged and strengthened; and history is celebrated. Such a facility will foster new relationships forged through social and intellectual activities, and students, faculty and staff work together on exciting projects that impact people at UK and beyond. Most importantly, it will be a home for many and create a sense of place and purpose.

This is a shared vision for the Student Center and we are excited that you will be a part of it.

CREATING A NEW CAMPUS LIVING ROOM Student Centers, often referred to as the “living room” of a campus, are more than just a building.

Student Centers provide spaces for students to collaborate, study, dine, recreate and most importantly - build community. The University of Kentucky is committed to creating a Student Center that does just that: provides a community-gathering venue that serves as a welcoming respite for our students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Since July 2011, UK has invested more than $1.7 billion in facilities

projects, aimed at fostering the best environment for student success.

So as we continue to transform our campus, our Student Center project further exemplifies that commitment.

Of course, in order to determine how to create the best living room for our campus, we asked students and others for input. What kinds of spaces are needed? What kinds of technology will help students succeed? This process of gathering input and engaging in conversations with our students and others was pivotal as we designed this facility.

COMING JANUARY 2018:

THE NEW STUD The new Student Center will be a space the entire Wildcat family can enjoy. The new Student Center will revolutionize the way we serve students, faculty, staff and visitors.

We are excited to share highlights of the new facility with you.

Dedicated Student Organization Space. Our students told us that they want more space for their student organization offices - spaces for groups including the Center for Community Outreach, the Student Activities Board and Student Government. The new Student Center will provide a dedicated area for these offices, with more space than the current facility.

Visitor Center. A beautiful new Visitor Center will be located off of the skywalk leading from Parking Structure 5, allowing prospective students and families to enter this area immediately when they arrive on our campus. We believe prospective students will look around as they enter the building and say “wow…this is where I need to be.”

Martin Luther King Center. The Martin Luther King Center will be located at the heart of the building. It will house cultural heritage information, program and educational support functions, as well as social and cultural development areas.

Blue Box Theater. A 250 variable seat “Blue Box Theater” will be equipped with state of the art technology, making it flexible for all kinds of performances from recitals to concerts to experimental theater and performance art to dinner theaters. It will be a remarkable and innovative space.

Senate Chamber. An 80+ seat, hightech senate chamber, equipped with video technology, roll-call voting and individual microphones will create an ideal space for Student Government functions and University Senate meetings, among other events.

Social Staircase. Located in the center of the building and inspired by limestone creek and riverbeds of Kentucky, a huge social staircase will serve as a space to see and be seen in the Student Center. This staircase will allow students to socialize, relax and converse in this area. The contours will resemble the bed of a “river of knowledge” flowing through the building.

Residential and Retail Dining.

An approximately 700 seat residential dining area will provide a large fresh food area. Retail dining options like Subway, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Greens to Go and other favorites will also be included.

OPENING FALL 2015:

THE 90

A NEW WILDCAT FAMILY “DINING ROOM”

For years, students on campus have said, “meet me at the 90,” referring to the 90-degree angle where Hilltop and Woodland avenues intersect. This summer, “meet me at the 90” takes on a whole new meaning when UK’s newest dining facility, The 90, opens at that location.

DENT CENTER

www.uky.edu/studentcenter/renovation

Campus Recreation.

Outdoor Social Spaces.

Grand Ballroom.

UK Bookstore.

30,000 sq. ft. of fully renovated and natural-light-filled space including a full service fitness center, group fitness rooms (for classes such as cycling, yoga, zumba, TRX, kickboxing, pilates and many others); a mat room for club sports organizations; and locker and shower facilities.

A 16,500 sq. ft. multi-purpose grand ballroom, capable of seating 1,000 guests at a plated dinner, with retractable dividers allowing the space to be sectioned into multiple smaller spaces. Large windows will allow natural light and a view of the Botanical Garden.

On all sides of the new Student Center there will be outdoor social spaces for dining, informal programs and socializing. The outdoor spaces – including the “K Line” bridge – will interact seamlessly with space inside the Student Center in a transparent way, so the outside becomes an active part of the Student Center.

A state-of-the-art 30,000 sq. ft. academic superstore operated by Barnes & Noble that will reflect the school’s Wildcat brand, offering approximately 50,000 volumes of general reading and exceptional customer service. When completed, the new three-story bookstore will also offer a full-service coffee shop with indoor and outdoor seating.

THE 90 FEATURES:

Kentucky ProudTM products

Aqua Sushi

1,000 seat Fresh Food Company®

The Food Connection at UK

®

Taco Bell Express Wildcat Pantry Ovid’s

Classrooms

Living Learning Programs Offices Student support spaces La Madeleine ®

BOWMAN’S DEN

BLAZER HALL

OUR TEMPORARY HOMES: During the time of the Student Center renovation and expansion project, the Student Center’s services and offices will be located in a few alternate locations.

Located near the intersection of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Avenue of Champions, Blazer Hall will house a multitude of staff and student organization offices during the renovation project Bowman’s Den will be the home of many services and retail facilities during our renovation project.

THE KAPLAN TEST PREP

The Kaplan Test Prep facility will be located in Bosworth Hall (South Limestone) during the renovation.

WRFL-FM 88.1

WRFL-FM 88.1, Radio-free Lexington, will be located in White Hall Classroom Building.

THE UK BOOKSTORE

The UK Bookstore will be located in the temporary structure on Lexington Avenue behind the Joe Craft Center during the renovation.

BLAZER HALL

LOCATED IN BLAZER HALL: LOWER LEVEL: The Cats Den THIRD FLOOR: Student Center Executive Director’s Office

(including event management, activities and marketing, business operations, security operations and University Sound and Lights)

Center for Community Outreach

Commencement Coordination Office Leadership Exchange

Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center Office of Student Involvement OUTsource

Student Activities Board Student Government

BOWMAN’S DEN

SERVICES AT BOWMAN’S DEN: OFFICES:

DINING:

Plus Account

Chick-fil-A ®

Greens to Go

®

Panda Express ® Starbucks ® Subway ®

Wildcard ID

Ticketmaster ® Passport

UK Federal Credit Union

Dining Center ATMs

Location of the NEW STUDENT CENTER

THE BRIDGEBUILDER An old man, going a lone highway, Came at the evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, vast and deep and wide, Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The sullen stream had no fears for him; But he turned when safe on the other side And built a bridge to span the tide.

“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near, “You are wasting strength with building here; Your journey will end with the ending day; You never again must pass this way; You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide— Why build you the bridge at the eventide?”

The builder lifted his old gray head: “Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said, “There followeth after me today A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that has been naught to me To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”

~W ill Allen Dromgoole

Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton On Sept. 14, 2014, the University of Kentucky announced the largest gift in the institutions’s history — a $20 million commitment and lead gift by UK graduate and Trustee Carol Martin (Bill) Gatton toward the construction of the university’s new 330,000-square-foot Student Center.

Gatton made another record-breaking gift to the university in 1995 when he committed $14 million for the UK College of Business and Economics.

At the time, the gift to the college was the largest one in the university’s history. The college was later named in Gatton’s honor.

Gatton’s total philanthropy to UK is now more than $45 million, and his total gift impact upon the university is nearly $57 million, with some of his gifts having been matched by the state’s “Bucks for Brains” program. He is the single largest donor in UK’s history.

He read the passage to the left at the news conference announcing his gift for the new Student Center.

Office of the President

Office of Undergraduate Admission 100 W.D. Funkhouser Building Lexington, KY 40506-0054 859-257-2000 866-900-GO-UK