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UK’s historic Scovell Hall to undergo $70 million renovation

UK's Scovell Hall, which was constructed in 1903, will reopen in 2026 after a $70 million dollar renovation.
University of Kentucky
UK's Scovell Hall, which was constructed in 1903, will reopen in 2026 after a $70 million dollar renovation.

The University of Kentucky is spending $70 million to renovate Scovell Hall, which was constructed in 1903. Carmen Agouridis is the senior associate dean for the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. She said Scovell Hall began as UK’s Agricultural Experiment Station – and was built on what was then the outskirts of campus.

“Scoville Hall changed from being predominantly a College of Agriculture-type building to also then having other departments in there. With this renovation, we're coming back more onto main campus. So the College of Agriculture in some ways is reclaiming, I'd say all of Scovell Hall.”

According to a news release, the upgraded Scovell Hall will encompass 92,000 square feet and serve as the administrative headquarters for the college of agriculture, food and environment. Agouridis said it will also have a new and very large teaching kitchen.

“Scovell Hall will have a new 4,000 square foot state of the art teaching kitchen that will be used by our dietetics and Human Nutrition Department primarily. But we also have departments such as our retailing, tourism and management, they have students that focus on hospitality, that use that as well.”

Agouridis said the student-run Lemon Tree restaurant will also have a new home, and there’ll be seven new classrooms and an upgraded student lounge.

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John McGary is a Lexington native and Navy veteran with three decades of radio, television and newspaper experience.
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