Turner and the University of Kentucky have marked a key milestone in the $184 million Agricultural Research Facility with the topping out of the building, signaling the end of vertical construction. The project began in June 2024 and is scheduled for completion in late 2026.
When complete, the 235,000-square-foot building will be a center for sophisticated agricultural research and hands-on learning. It is programmed to unite researchers, students, and faculty and accommodate various departments and state institutions for facilitating academic education as well as scientific discovery.
Some of its many features are:
Eight teaching laboratories
A 250-seat auditorium and lecture hall
A rooftop greenhouse complex and a separate teaching greenhouse
Office and conference spaces for research staff and professors
Cold storage rooms, growth chambers, and a food sensory lab
Wet and dry labs of more than 61,000 net square feet
Facilities for necropsy, insect rearing, and plant diagnostic with specialized equipment
Departments that are moving in to the building are Entomology, Horticulture, Animal & Food Sciences, and Plant & Soil Sciences, and the State Entomology Office.
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Strong Partnership and Efficient Progress
Beginning deep foundation operations in November 2024, the University’s Agricultural Research Facility project has progressed considerably. According to David Opalka, Vice President and Construction Executive for Turner Construction Company, the team kept progressing even under extreme winter weather conditions:
This is wonderful milestone for a project that began working on deep foundations in November. Our team of project has fought the harsh winter with creative solutions to achieve the milestone. We appreciate the cooperation with our design partner BHDP Architecture, and the University of Kentucky for their continued trust in Turner to deliver game-changing spaces.
The new Agricultural Research Facility is another milestone in the long history of Turner’s association with the University of Kentucky, with over 30 completed projects on its record.
Looking Ahead
As construction continues toward a 2026 completion, the building is poised to revolutionize the agricultural research potential of the university. It will open up new avenues for interdisciplinarity and be a dynamic center for students and scholars striving to meet pressing concerns in food production, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.
This topping out achievement is not just a reflection of structural progress, but also the collaborative vision of constructing a facility that will inspire agricultural science advancement for generations to come.
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University of Kentucky Agricultural Research Facility: Project Factsheet
Project Overview
Status: Topping Out Milestone Reached, July 2025
Total Investment: $184 million
Project Timeline: June 2024 – Late 2026
Facility Size: 235,000 square feet
Key Project Details
General Contractor: Turner Construction Company
Design Partner: BHDP Architecture
Foundation Work Started: November 2024
Ground Breaking: June 2024
Expected Completion: Late 2026
University of Kentucky Agricultural Research Facility: Features & Specifications
Laboratory Space: 61,000+ net square feet of wet and dry labs
Teaching Infrastructure: 8 teaching laboratories, 250-seat auditorium
Specialized Facilities: Growth chambers, cold storage, food sensory lab, necropsy facilities, insect rearing, plant diagnostics
Greenhouse Complex: Rooftop greenhouse and separate teaching greenhouse
Office & Meeting Spaces: Faculty and research team facilities
Academic Departments
The facility will house five key departments:
Entomology
Horticulture
Animal & Food Sciences
Plant & Soil Sciences
State Entomology Office
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