Incredible. Spectacular. Transformative.
Those were some of the words used August 14 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of the Belknap Academic Building. The 165,000-square-foot building addresses a longtime need for more and better classroom space.
鈥淯ofL had the most critical shortage of classroom space of all Kentucky public schools. This building changes all of that,鈥 said UofL President .
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, who took part in the celebration, called the facility an 鈥渋ncredible resource鈥 that will change people鈥檚 lives.
鈥淭his is the embodiment of what spending money on post-secondary education is all about,鈥 Bevin said. 鈥淭his building is how we connect young people with the skills they have to impart and to empower them and arm them with what they need in the real world.鈥
The four-story, $80 million facility, located along South Brook Street between the Shumaker Research Building and Lutz Hall, contains more than 50 classrooms, laboratories, seminar rooms and group study areas. It also includes common areas where students can interact with their classmates.
Additionally, the building houses the university鈥檚 , where students receive services that will help them to thrive in the classroom and beyond.
鈥淭hese services are essential to student success and they belong in the same building,鈥 said Interim Provost Beth Boehm. 鈥淲e are trying to provide constant, intensive support for our students. Our goal is for them not just to succeed, but to excel.鈥
The ceremony, which was held less than 48 hours before freshman move-in day, represents a new beginning, said Student Government Association President .
鈥淚 think I speak for the entire Cardinal family when I say this building couldn鈥檛 come at a better time, when we鈥檙e starting fresh and refocusing on our mission,鈥 Fuller said.
Construction of the academic building began two years ago on the site where the legendary Crawford Gym once stood. In a nod to the past, the first-floor benches in the new building are made of wood recycled from the Crawford Gym floor.
The new building primarily will serve undergraduate students, particularly those taking courses in the College of Arts and Sciences. It has labs dedicated to anthropology, biology, chemistry and physics.
The building鈥檚 technology-rich spaces are designed to foster innovative and active learning methods proven to promote student engagement. Services offered in the facility make it a one-stop academic shop for UofL students.
鈥淥ur hope is this building sends a powerful signal to the world that UofL will continue to thrive and excel as an academic institution,鈥 Bendapudi said.
Photos from today’s ceremony and building tours are . Below are some highlights from the ribbon-cutting ceremony:聽
