Research

UK Board Approves Construction of $15 Million Coldstream Research Lab to Support Early Stage, High-Tech Companies

photo of UK Coldstream Research Campus
A new facility at UK's Coldstream Research Campus will fill a facilities gap between small labs leased to companies in UK's ASTeCC building, and larger facilities used by established companies at Coldstream and other locations. Mark Cornelison | UK Photo

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 21, 2020) — The University of Kentucky’s Coldstream Research Campus will soon be home to a new, $15 million research laboratory that will house early stage, high-tech companies, some being incubated on UK's main campus.

The Board of Trustees approved construction of the facility at its meeting today, along with the authorization for the university to create a public-private partnership with a developer to construct and own the building. Kentucky Technology, Inc. (KTI), a subsidiary of the UK Research Foundation, will master lease 20,000 square feet of the new building’s estimated 40,000 square feet. KTI plans to sublease its space to appropriate high-tech companies.

George Ward, executive director of the Coldstream Research Campus, says the building will fill a facilities gap between small labs leased to companies in UK's Advanced Science and Technology Commercialization Center (ASTeCC) building, and larger facilities used by established companies at Coldstream and other locations in the state.

"The new research building at Coldstream will enable growing high-tech companies, many housed in UK's ASTeCC building, to continue their research and business expansion," Ward said. "There is a very small inventory of available laboratory space for these growing companies currently, and by providing this facility at Coldstream, Lexington will benefit from the well-paying jobs these companies are creating."

The new facility will be constructed to meet Coldstream's design guidelines, and will house wet labs, offices and flex space for the early stage companies. In alignment with UK's new Economic Development Collaborative, the project supports companies growing at ASTeCC and other places as a landing spot for continued growth, providing an environment where they can commercialize their products and services.

The project was authorized by the 2018 Kentucky General Assembly and will be funded by the developer. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2022.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.