LEXINGTON – The University of Kentucky held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for the Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders.
The $60 million, 66,000-square-foot facility is the college’s first new campus building in decades, serving as a central hub for teaching, advising and student engagement, the university said.
The building features 18 classrooms, dedicated study and collaboration spaces and a range of student-focused services, including the Center for Student Success. Academic programs housed in the facility include Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology, Department of Community and Leadership Development, the Higgins-Neyland Companion Animal Program, Natural Resources and Environmental Science, pre-veterinary mentoring and UK Ag Equine Programs.
The building at the corner of Cooper Drive and South Limestone also has informal gathering areas and a café.
“As a student, it’s exciting to see this kind of investment in our future,” said Tyren Harris, a freshman agricultural education major. “This building creates a place where we can come together, get our work done and support each other. That makes a big difference in your experience as a student.”
By bringing advising, academics and student spaces together under one roof, it helps students navigate their academic journey.
“This building, and those who will work in it, will help advance our enduring and precious promise to the state we were created to serve,” UK President Eli Capilouto said in a formal statement. “By creating a space where students, faculty and programs come together under one roof, we are strengthening our ability to prepare the next generation of leaders who will advance agriculture and improve lives across all 120 counties in our Commonwealth. And as Kentucky’s land-grant institution, we remain committed to our mission — 160 years strong — and are deeply grateful for the generosity that makes today possible.”
The facility was made possible in part through the generosity of The Bill Gatton Foundation, the university news release said.