UK’s landscape changes behind chain-link fences

Students walk past the construction on north campus in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, September 24, 2013. Photo by Emily Wuetcher | Staff

By Laura Shrake | Assistant News Editor

lshrake@kykernel.com

Behind chain-link fences and orange cones, the landscape of UK is changing.

Five new residence halls sit behind the fences, all of which are on track to open its doors in the fall of 2014, said Penny Cox, the director of the housing implementation project.

The current construction will bring 2,381 beds in Champions Court I and II (next to Blazer on North Campus), Haggin Hall and Woodland Glen I and II (which will replace the Cooperstown apartments).

Cox said the biggest draw of the new residence halls are the modern facilities. They will offer students suite-style living, including personal sinks, Tempur-Pedic mattresses and classroom space.

Central Hall I and II, which opened this semester, have classroom space in the building. First preference for the classrooms was given to honors classes, as those students are primarily housed in Central I and II, but the halls were placed on the central registrar list so other university classes can use them as well, Cox said.

After the completion of the current construction phase, UK will delve into Phase III, which is still in the planning stages and has not yet been designed, she said.

Cox said recommendations for the plan are expected to be reviewed in January 2014.This phase of construction is planned to be completed in fall 2015.

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UK’s landscape changes behind chain-link fences