Supporting the next generation of ag scientists

Ensuring the continued advancement of innovative agricultural research at the University of Kentucky, the new College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment (CAFE) Agricultural Research Building prepares the next generation of leaders to respond to the pressing agricultural challenges of today and into the future.

With a goal of LEED Silver, the 277,860-square-foot building replaces existing laboratory facilities, supporting research and instruction in a wide range of CAFE programs including animal science, entomology, horticulture, plant sciences, plant pathology, and soil science. Rooftop greenhouses, growth chambers, advanced wet and dry laboratories, and other specialized research environments enable investigators to perform a wide range of analyses, from nutrient assessments of feeds and foods to gene and protein expression studies.

Students in the CAFE programs are afforded enhanced hands-on learning opportunities. In addition to teaching labs, classrooms, and collaborative meeting areas, the research greenhouses are complemented by a separate teaching greenhouse with indoor and outdoor instructional spaces. Additionally, a scalable 250-seat auditorium capable of hosting lectures, demonstrations, and events encourages collaboration among researchers, students, and staff.

This cutting-edge setting also supports enhanced applied research and opportunities for external partnerships, continuing CAFE's culture of innovation that seeks to serve the entire Commonwealth and address grand challenges.

(Flad Architects (architectural design, lab programming, and planning); BHDP Architecture (architect of record, interior design, and experiential graphics)