University of Louisville Opens Engineering Facility

The University of Louisville's J.B. Speed School of Engineering opened the Student Success & Research Building in September of 2025 in Kentucky. The 114,000-sf facility was designed by SmithGroup and Luckett & Farley to offer a maker space, modern classrooms, laboratories, conference rooms, and teamwork areas. Creating opportunities for experiential learning, the next-generation structure enhances student outcomes and engineering research with the provision of advanced equipment to support work across sectors such as robotics, artificial intelligence, sustainable energy, additive manufacturing, and cybersecurity. 

The $90 million development consolidates student support services under one roof. The Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research occupies 22,000 sf on the second and third levels. Supported by $65 million in state funding, the four-story building accommodates venues for shared exploration with industry partners to drive the growth of Kentucky’s technology-enabled economy. This vibrant nexus for collaboration and innovation also includes an atrium, a café, a lounge, and a wellness room. 

Whittenberg Construction was the general contractor for the sustainably designed project, which features a geothermal exchange, a photovoltaic array, and a high-performance façade. Ground was broken in fall of 2023.