Coldstream Research Campus P3 Development

Abstract

The University of Kentucky’s Coldstream Research Campus is a premier business location in the heart of the world-famous Kentucky Bluegrass Region. Once a prominent Kentucky horse farm and home to the first Kentucky Derby winner, Aristides, Coldstream’s 735-acre campus has transitioned into a hub of innovation and creativity. Today, Coldstream is home to over 50 organizations with more than 2,250 employees working in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, equine health, and a variety of other industry sectors.

The goal of many research parks around the country is to create a live-work-play-innovate environment. Modern office and laboratory buildings plus social infrastructure, including a residential village to activate the research campus 24/7 are necessary to attract young professionals and an innovative workforce.

Through years of strategic actions, the Coldstream Research Campus is achieving this goal. It was first envisioned in a 2009 master plan and remained a development priority as the pieces were put into place to transform Coldstream. Activities that took place included redefining the zoning definition, changing the state’s tax increment financing (TIF) statutes, establishing a TIF district, and developing the research campus through public-private partnerships.

In the past 12 years, the campus has grown over 500,000 square feet of building space with another 344,000 under development for a grand total of over 1.7 million square feet. Included in the space under development is a 260-unit residential village (apartments) and a building with office and laboratory space for growing high-tech companies called the CORE – Collaboration, Research, Entrepreneurship.