Two iconic high rise towers, formerly dormitories, on the University of Kentucky campus are scheduled for demolition over the next year. The planned take down of the Kirwan-Blanding Residence Hall Complex and Dining Commons would pave the way for a new 500 bed residence hall plus substantial green space.
UK Vice President Eric Monday added implosion will not be used to demolish Kirwan Towers. “We’ve seen technology that allows, a robotic technology to start taking the building down, then those materials go down the shafts, the elevator shafts and then are crushed on site and become fill and other opportunities,” noted Monday.
UK Vice President Mary Vosevich said a wrecking ball approach might be challenging with 23 story tall structures.
Greenspace is a significant piece of the plan for the 14 acre site. Monday said there is room for further construction. “There’s multiple building sites. One building site is what we are looking at right now for a new housing complex that is still in front of us. That’s a conservation that we’re still working on. But what we’re focusing on today is, of course, bringing those down and creating this UK green,” Monday said.
The UK Board of Trustees is expected to consider approving $15 million for the demolition at a meeting Tuesday.
