LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky's Sports Center Garage will close Monday, May 11, and remain shuttered through the summer as part of a major capital construction project expected to wrap up before fall semester classes begin.

The $115 million public-private partnership, developed by Signet Real Estate Group, will add 1,200 parking spaces to the garage and expand the adjacent Johnson Student Recreation Center by approximately 40,000 square feet. The garage expansion includes a one-level vertical expansion and a five-level horizontal expansion to the west.

Students and employees holding R7, E7 and C7 permits can continue parking in several designated areas during the closure, including spaces along Complex Drive, Hilltop Avenue Garage, and peripheral lots designated for summer. E7 permit holders have access to additional regular employee parking areas. No permit exchanges are necessary — permit holders simply need to display their permits in authorized areas.

The project addresses growing parking needs on the South Campus while offsetting anticipated parking losses associated with the Chandler Hospital expansion. Once completed, the garage and recreation center will be physically connected by an overhead pedestrian bridge.

Pedestrians and cyclists should exercise caution in the area during construction. The garage is expected to reopen before Fall 2026 student move-in, though it will reopen for fall and spring semesters with minimal disruptions during the final phases of construction.

The Johnson Center expansion will feature new spaces on the building's north and south sides, renovations throughout, a 60-foot-tall climbing wall with dedicated bouldering sections, and a Shake Smart location for healthy eating, along with upgraded mechanical and life safety systems. Construction for the Johnson Center is expected to be completed by December 2026.

For questions about parking options, contact UK Transportation Services at transportation@uky.edu or 859-257-5757.