New era for legal and medical education begins in Northern Kentucky
COVINGTON, Ky. (June 12, 2026) — Community members gathered yesterday to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence, a transformative project that will bring together legal education, medical education,research and entrepreneurship in the heart of Northern Kentucky.
Located at 11 E. RiverCenter Blvd. in Covington, the Commonwealth Center will become the future home of Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Northern Kentucky campus.
The project represents a unique partnership among higher education institutions and local government aimed at strengthening Kentucky’s health care and expanding graduate educational opportunities for decades to come.
“We are thrilled to put shovels in the ground and transform this parking lot into a world-class facility for the NKU Salmon P. Chase College of Law and University of Kentucky Medical School-Northern Kentucky campus,” said Christine Russell, executive director of the Northern Kentucky Port Authority. “Northern Kentucky’s future doctors and lawyers will be educated at the Commonwealth Center in the heart of the region’s life sciences and legal community.”
Chase College of Law will bring more than 500 graduate students, faculty and staff back to Covington where the school operated from 1972 to 1981.
“This project represents the future of higher education and regional collaboration,” said NKU President Cady Short-Thompson. “By bringing together law, medicine, research and innovation in the heart of Covington, we’re creating new opportunities for students while helping strengthen the talent pipeline and economic vitality of Northern Kentucky. NKU is proud to be part of a partnership that will shape the future of this region for generations to come.”
Meanwhile, the new facility will provide UK College of Medicine with the necessary space to grow its Northern Kentucky campus’ enrollment by 40%.
“Advancing the health of our Commonwealth and her people is central to our mission at the University of Kentucky,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “The Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence reflects that promise by uniting world-class education and innovative research to address the most urgent challenges facing our communities. With the UK College of Medicine-Northern Kentucky campus at the heart of this effort, we are strengthening our ability to translate discovery into meaningful impact and prepare the future health professionals to care for Kentucky and beyond.”
The Commonwealth Center was funded by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2024. Over the following year, officials conducted a comprehensive search of Covington for the right location, while also working with both universities to assess their needs. The NKY Port, which will own the building, was assisted by owner’s representative HDR and development firm Pizzuti. In March, Pepper Construction and MSA Design were selected to serve as the project’s design-build team. The design-build team also includes SLAM, THP Limited, Heapy, The Kleingers Group and Design 27.
“I’m proud to see all of the great work that Judge Knochelmann and the (Kenton County) Fiscal Court have done in collaboration with Dean Judith Darr with Chase Law and Dr. Holly Danneman, associate dean of UK’s Northern Kentucky campus, to get this revolutionary project moving out of the ground,” said Sen. Chris McDaniel, who chairs the Senate’s budget committee. “This project has been a challenging endeavor but today is a testament to what can happen when people set aside all of their individual interests and work cooperatively to create lasting opportunities for Kentuckians.”
“Today’s groundbreaking is about more than a building. It’s about continuing Northern Kentucky’s evolution into a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and life sciences,” said Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann. “By bringing together two world-class institutions, we’re creating a foundation for economic growth, workforce development and opportunity that will strengthen our region well into the future.”
“The relocation of the Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine to Covington strengthens our position as a center for education, innovation and economic opportunity,” said Covington Mayor Ron Washington. “I am proud to know that many of the next generation of doctors and lawyers who will serve communities across the Commonwealth will have received their education right here in Covington.”
The Commonwealth Center builds on Northern Kentucky’s growing reputation as a center for innovation, education and research. By bringing together leading academic institutions in a collaborative environment, the project is expected to enhance workforce development, support economic growth and create new opportunities for students and employers across the region.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
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 healthcare. 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 $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.