Photo Credits: raSmith
Central Bank Center in Lexington, Kentucky, is undergoing a $275 million expansion and renovation to the existing convention center space and arena. The Center is co-located with the 20,000-seat Rupp Arena, which hosts concerts and is home of the University of Kentucky basketball program.
The multi-disciplinary consulting firm and SFIA member, raSmith, is providing engineering support for the cold-formed steel (CFS) framing used on the project.
Steel and Sustainability
Central Bank Center is one of the nation’s most storied entertainment designations, says the website rupparena.com. To preserve its unique history and ensure its relevance for generations to come, a design team of NBBJ in Los Angeles and EOP Architects of Lexington was appointed to re-envision its future.
The redesign provides a transparent exterior for Rupp Arena and the convention center, giving them distinctive building identities and entrances.
“[The] project features a structural steel primary framing system with some exterior precast wall panels,” says the raSmith website. “Exterior cold-formed steel framing is used throughout the project for backup of the metal panel finish systems.”
In addition to the exterior redesign, the project also includes upgrades to the convention center and Rupp Arena.
Convention center upgrades include:
- 51.5% increase in exhibition space from to 66,000 to 100,000 sq. ft.
- 38.2% increase in ballroom space from 17,600 to 24,330 sq. ft.
- 25,000 sq. ft. of additional meeting space
Rupp Arena upgrades include:
- Upgrades to the upper seating bowl
- 50,000 sq. ft. of additional space for the UK Hospitality Club
- Expanded concourses
- Sustainability features to help obtain LEED certification
“The new center’s modern, airy design connects visitors visually with Lexington and its attractions,” says the Lane Report. “It uses reclaimed wood from Claiborne Farm, home of the famed racehorse Secretariat, for its centerpiece staircase, a new iconic social gathering space.”
A phased opening of the project has begun:
- Central Bank Center (formerly Lexington Center) opened in spring 2021
- Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center is scheduled to open in spring 2022
“The new convention center will create jobs and attract economic development. It gives us the opportunity to market to a broader convention audience,” said Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton.
Article cited by BuildSteel.org