The start of the Fall 2026 semester brought the reopening of the newly renovated White Hall Classroom Building, marking the completion of a major project to transform one of the University of Kentucky’s busiest academic spaces.
The upgraded building boasts 46 classrooms, open natural lighting, increased collaboration and study spaces and enhanced ADA accessibility. These improvements lay the foundation for a significant campus-wide impact.
“Having been out of commission for the renovation for two years, it’s great to see students utilizing the building the ways we imagined,” said Angela Walton, capital construction manager senior in Facilities Management Planning, Design and Construction. “Our hope was for students to feel the positive impact of this project both inside and outside of the building and find many more spaces to collaborate, learn, meet and hang out. It feels like a brand-new building.”
The renovation includes traditional, horseshoe and tiered lecture halls, Technology-Enhanced Active Learning classrooms, tutoring spaces including Mathskeller, which offers specialized tutoring in mathematics and a micro-market.
“I have been impressed with the large lecture hall in White Hall,” said Tony Stallins, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Geography in the College of Arts and Sciences. “The technology is seamless and the room is designed to allow you to move freely which allows me to interact with students in all corners of the room. The upgrades in lighting, acoustics and technology really provide students with the first-class experience they deserve.”
Almost 400 faculty are teaching in the renovated space this fall.
“I’ve really enjoyed teaching in an updated classroom in the White Hall Classroom Building,” said Vanessa Holden, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of History in the College of Arts and Sciences and director of the African American and Africana Studies Program. “The updated technology, new seating arrangement and large windows create a comfortable, well-lit classroom. I think the students are enjoying it as well.”
White Hall is the main classroom building on campus with most undergraduate students having at least one class in the building. Through the renovation, the hope is that White Hall will become a main hub for collaboration and studying on central campus. William Allen, a music performance and music education senior double major in the College of Fine Arts, remembers the building before it began renovations after his freshman year and has a class in the renovated building as a senior.
“Having experienced White Hall before the renovation, I feel that the new renovations are a success,” Allen said. “The energy of the building feels a lot more inviting and the lighting feels a lot warmer. The classrooms feel very open and inviting. I don’t feel like I’m trapped in a lecture hall anymore. The new space makes it a bit easier to get through the day, enjoy my classes and learn everything I can.”
The renovation of White Hall was funded almost 80% by Kentucky asset preservation funds, state budget allocations approved by the Kentucky General Assembly to help public universities maintain, repair and renovate existing campus buildings and infrastructure. The remaining balance was funded through University of Kentucky bonds.
“White Hall Classroom Building is the perfect example of an asset preservation project because it is utilized by the vast majority of undergraduate students on campus,” said Kevin Locke, associate vice president for planning, design and construction in Facilities Management. “When you look at the goal of asset preservation and what our biggest need was on campus — it was the perfect marriage.”
The idea of taking such a utilized building offline for two years wasn’t met without trepidation. Planning the renovation in a phased approach would have prolonged the impact of construction on central campus and increased construction costs by up to 20%, Locke said. Once it was decided to take the building offline for two years, Paul Knowles, director of campus planning and space management in Facilities Management, and the Registrar’s Office worked to place classes in existing underutilized space across campus as well as expand some class times.
“It took some convincing; no one really thought it could be done,” Locke said. “Before the renovation, the building hadn’t had any major renovation work done besides the restrooms since it originally opened in 1969. Professors were teaching in a space that was limiting, and there were no collaboration or study spaces for students. Before the renovation, the building had nothing to do with collaboration; now, it is all about collaboration.”
Preliminary estimates show White Hall Classroom Building’s renovation project also diverted more than 85% of the demolition and construction waste, though final numbers are pending. About 2,950 tons of concrete, metal, masonry and other materials were kept out of the landfill and will be reused or recycled into something new. This surpasses the university’s construction and demolition debris diversion target of 75% outlined in the UK Design and Construction Standards that go into effect in 2027.
“The White Hall renovation’s 85% diversion rate is an enormous success and shows how, with leadership support and a creative team, even large projects like this can achieve a high diversion rate,” said Ryan Lark, zero-waste specialist in Facilities Management.
In addition to its environmental benefits, the project’s lasting impact can be seen in the renewed spaces it provides for students.
“I love this renovation for two reasons,” Locke said. “First, no one thought we could get it done, it was a tremendous undertaking and challenged us in new ways, and, more importantly, it was all for the students.”
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.
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