As we go out with a RFP from 2013 to 2021, we want to work on expanding our
residence halls up to 9,000 modem beds. Currently, we have 5,500 but only about 500 are
quality beds. We would be able to do the replacement and expansion in a measured way over
time.
The academic, research, and student support facilities we looked at were $400 to $500
million in total investment. In temis of this planning phase, we did not consider self-financed
projects such as those that would go under UK HealthCare or Athletics. That would be for future
consideration.
We want to issue the RFP (Request for Proposal) tomorrow. We want to identify a
private partner who has the financial capacity and strength demonstrated over time and the
experience to help us, as a strong partner, undertake this building program. The request for
Phase 1 will be the occupancy of 600 beds by fall 2013, and again, this is modem living and
leaming space, something that our students and their families most desire.
President Capilouto recognized Bob Wiseman, Vice President for Facilities, and asked
him to review the campus land capacity assessment.
Mr. Wiseman reported that the campus master planner, Ayres Saint Gross, was asked to
look at the campus and see if 9,000 beds would fit on campus. He reviewed the chart displayed,
explaining the various pieces and locations on the chart. He explained that the five-story
buildings would be more on the interior of campus, and the four-story buildings would be on the
perimeters of campus. The campus can accommodate up to 9,000 beds, and the administration
will be working with a potential developer to come up with the plan illustrated in the chart.
He noted that this plan would require dining facilities and student amenities phases, and
the University has the capacity on land. It will not be necessary for the buildings to be built
high, therefore, smaller buildings for a community within the residence halls can be built.
President Capilouto then continued his remarks, talking about the next immediate steps.
We want to have conversations with our stakeholders: students who will be partners in
this plan for the future, the faculty, the neighborhoods, and our donors. We have already begun
those discussions.
The RFP that will be issued is going to evaluate the public/private partnerships compared
to university-financed projects, so there is a range of roles that could be played here. Through
this process, we will be able to assess what would be optimal for the University of Kentucky.
The other scenarios that we must develop with more specificity over the next 60 days are
looking at the combination of funding sources that we could have for projects within this macro
plan, especially when it gets to some of our academic and student support buildings. We need to
look carefully at the sequencing of projects in the immediate future and the partnerships and
financial capacities we have.
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