Louisville Water Company Benefits from UK, UofL Project

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 7, 2011) − Under the direction of architect Freek Persyn, founder of 51N4E, University of Kentucky College of Design students have been helping develop ideas and proposals for a water education center and museum for the Louisville Water Company on their historic water tower property on Louisville's Zorn Avenue. Through the execution of some of the concepts, the water company hopes to share its history and provide information about the relation of water to energy, technology and health.

During the workshop, UK students worked with University of Louisville MBA students to develop a feasibility study to ensure the financial success of the Water Education Center and Museum, toured the Louisville Water Company’s facilities and attended several presentations about the history and technology of the water management in Louisville.

The students are currently working with Freek Persyn to develop a series of programs for the Louisville Water Company that will leverage their company's assets and ideas to have the greatest impact on Louisville.

 “I think that we need to help the Louisville Water Company see the potential of what they are proposing," says architecture graduate student Michael Mead. "To help them realize that this could be more than a center for education, but a center of innovation.”

Students' ideas and proposals and other research from the workshop will be further developed during an upcoming spring studio course at UK School of Architecture to be taught by Elodie Nourigat, founder of N+B Architects, of Montpellier, France.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-8716 or whitney.hale@uky.edu