University of Louisville Student Housing Louisville, Kentucky

Services Provided

Master Planning
Site Planning & Design
Landscape Architecture
Construction Documentation

People Involved

Andy Knight
Casey Elmer
Ryan Blume

Re-imagining student housing to create a seamless campus and outdoor space for students.

MKSK served as both Site Planners and Landscape Architects for two new residential facilities located within the heart of the University of Louisville’s downtown urban campus. Leading a sub-master planning process at the onset of the project, MKSK collaborated with JRA Architects and University staff to explore multiple building options, including the preferred configuration that maximized solar orientation, views, and outdoor spaces for students.

The planning process resulted in a “Zig-Zag” building configuration that shaped and enhanced existing campus open space and provided new spaces for students to recreate, study, socialize, and enjoy the campus landscape. The planning process proposed a series of outdoor rooms that not only have a direct relationship with the existing campus, but also extend the interior program of the building out into the campus creating a seamless visual and physical relationship.

MKSK analyzed the existing campus framework and developed a series of recommendations for future building placement and orientation that promotes a more sustainable development scenario while retaining and extending the campus open space system into and through the residence halls, effectively transitioning the void between the popular Student Activities Center and the academic core of the campus.

Anticipated for completion in 2021, Phase 1 (north residential hall) will transform an existing surface parking lot into a new residence hall and provide open spaces for students. Phase 2 is anticipated to start construction immediately following Phase 1.