UK opens $60 million Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building to support students

Media kit with photos and video: https://future.mgcafe.uky.edu/media-kit

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 21, 2026) — The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment marked a major milestone today with the ribbon-cutting of the Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building, a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance student success and prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders. 

The $60 million, 66,000-square-foot facility represents the college’s first new campus building in decades, serving as a central hub for teaching, advising and student engagement. 

Designed for students, the building features 18 classrooms, dedicated study and collaboration spaces, and a range of student-focused services, including the Center for Student Success. Academic programs housed in the facility include: 

• Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology 
• Department of Community and Leadership Development 
• Higgins-Neyland Companion Animal Program 
• Natural Resources and Environmental Science 
• Pre-Veterinary Mentoring 
• UK Ag Equine Programs 

The building also includes informal gathering areas and a café to foster connection and community among students.

“As a student, it’s exciting to see this kind of investment in our future,” said Tyren Harris, a freshman majoring in agricultural education. “This building creates a place where we can come together, get our work done and support each other. That makes a big difference in your experience as a student.”

By bringing advising, academics and student spaces together under one roof, the facility creates a more connected and supportive experience, helping students navigate their academic journey.

“Today, we are honored to commemorate another important milestone in the history of our Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. This building, and those who will work in it, will help advance our enduring and precious promise to the state we were created to serve,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “By creating a space where students, faculty and programs come together under one roof, we are strengthening our ability to prepare the next generation of leaders who will advance agriculture and improve lives across all 120 counties in our Commonwealth. And as Kentucky’s land-grant institution, we remain committed to our mission — 160 years strong — and are deeply grateful for the generosity that makes today possible.”  

The facility was made possible in part through the generosity of The Bill Gatton Foundation, whose historic gift is reshaping the college’s teaching, research and outreach mission. 

“Bill Gatton believed that investing in people creates opportunities that change people’s lives today and for generations,” said Danny L. Dunn, trustee for The Bill Gatton Foundation. “This building reflects his commitment to students, faculty, the administration and to the future of agriculture. It is exciting to know that the experiences, connections and ideas that begin here will shape leaders who will serve Kentucky, people and communities not only in the Commonwealth but far beyond it.”

The building’s name honors the parents of the late UK alumnus and philanthropist Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton —  Edith Martin and Harry W. Gatton Sr. — reflecting their deep roots in agriculture and the values that shaped their commitment to expanding opportunities for future generations.

That connection is visible immediately upon entering the building, where a photograph of the Gatton family farm serves as a powerful reminder of the agricultural roots that inspired Bill Gatton’s lifelong support of education. 

“The story of the Gatton family is deeply connected to the story of agriculture in Kentucky,” said Laura Stephenson, Ph.D., vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “Their legacy reminds us that education creates opportunity, and that investing in students today will shape the future of agriculture for generations to come.” 

The project was delivered through a collaborative effort that included BHDP architectural firm, Congleton-Hacker Company and University of Kentucky’s Capital Projects and Facilities Management teams.  

The Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building is part of a larger transformation across the college, with more than $450 million in capital investments supporting modern teaching, research and Extension facilities.

Following the ceremony, guests were invited to tour the building and explore interactive displays highlighting the programs and services now housed in the facility.