University of Kentucky Celebrates Topping-Out Ceremony for the Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building

The University of Kentucky (UK) Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) celebrated a topping-out ceremony for the Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building on Thursday, December 19, 2024, in Lexington, KY. This special event marked the placement of the final beam, marking the completion of the building's structural steel construction phase.

UK broke ground on the Agricultural Sciences Building in March 2024. Designed by BHDP, the 66,000-SF building will feature spacious, open classrooms on the ground floor, complemented by a café where students can relax, build relationships, and collaborate. The building's unique design will integrate outdoor spaces connected to the renovated Cooper House and the newly established James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, creating an immersive learning environment. It will also accommodate the college's expanding enrollment, with 15 state-of-the-art classrooms and various academic programs, including UK Ag Equine Programs, Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology, and Pre-Veterinary Advising. 

Together with the Agriculture Research Building project, also designed by BHDP in partnership with FLAD Architects, these new academic facilities will have a transformative impact on the CAFE district of the UK Lexington campus.

Tom Sens, BHDP Client Leader, shared his thoughts on the significance of the ceremony: “This milestone is a testament to the University of Kentucky’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration within agriculture and environmental sciences. We are honored to partner with UK on this transformative project and look forward to seeing the positive impact this facility will have on students, faculty, and the broader community.”

The building is set to open its doors for the spring 2026 semester. Check out this video from the ceremony and learn more about the project on the University of Kentucky’s website.