The Kirwan Blanding Towers are finally coming down

After being vacant for two years, UK’s iconic Kirwan and Blanding dormitory towers are finally coming down.

According to the Herald-Leader, the finance committee of the UK Board of Trustees will review a plan today to demolish the 23-story towers and eight surrounding low-rise buildings, which were built in the 1960s. The 13-acre site will become a campus green space, and UK plans to keep the canopy of oak trees, which were planted after the complex opened. The demolition is expected to cost $15 million, which pales in comparison to the $126 million estimate to renovate the buildings to modern standards.

A map of the area, per the Herald-Leader:

Image via the Herald-Leader

If you’ve walked or driven around campus in the past few years, you know that UK isn’t exactly hurting for new dorms these days. In the past five years, $1 billion has been spent on new dorms at UK, and it shows. UK’s new dorms make the Kirwan-Blanding towers look dinosaurs, each featuring private bedrooms, TempurPedic mattresses, community spaces, and state of the art dining areas. It’s not a coincidence that UK’s housing and dining rates are expected to go up again next year.

Back when UK announced the towers would be no longer be used, I imagined what we could use them for, and I’m a little sad UK didn’t take me up on my ideas. I’m sure Doron Lamb would really have appreciated his own floor:

8 Things UK can do with the Kirwan and Blanding Towers

Seriously, kudos UK for turning the area into a green space instead of more buildings. The environment thanks you.

[Kentucky.com]

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