University of Kentucky Don & Cathy Jacobs Science Building

The Jacobs Science Building is the premier academic facility at the University of Kentucky. CARMAN provided landscape architectural and civil engineering services for the project as part of a multi-discipline team of local and national consultants.

The U-shaped building defines and embraces an existing cross-campus pedestrian corridor. The central courtyard is a hub of activity and illustrates the benefit of exterior spaces for both educational and social gathering. It includes two outdoor classrooms, complete with integrated outdoor chalkboards. The walls are clad with igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock that emulate various geologic formations.

Permeable pavers weave through the courtyard, emulating a stream and disguising an underground storm water infiltration basin. Two 20,000-gallon tanks also lie beneath the courtyard to harvest rainwater from the roof for irrigation of the landscape. The plant palette is composed entirely of species indigenous to Kentucky. Planting beds continue within the building interior, nestled beside the glass walls, blurring the line between inside and out.

The project was awarded LEED Silver certification.