LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky's White Hall Classroom Building is racing toward completion with just months remaining before the structure reopens for the Fall 2026 semester, according to a report from UK News.

The $82 million renovation project began in May 2024 and represents one of the most significant facility improvements on UK's central campus in decades. The building, which originally opened in 1969, will feature 46 modernized classrooms, enhanced natural lighting and improved accessibility for students with disabilities.

"I think everyone is eager to be back in White Hall after the building has been out of commission for two years," said Angela Walton, capital construction manager senior in Facilities Management Planning, Design and Construction. "Students will feel the positive impact of this project both inside and outside of the building and find many more spaces to collaborate, learn, meet and hang out. It feels like a brand-new building."

Contractors are working from the top down, with final finishing touches underway on the third floor and furniture installations progressing on the second floor. The first floor is completing wooden wall panels, entrance construction and flooring installation. Beyond the classrooms, the renovation includes new outdoor seating and collaborative spaces designed to engage students outside the building.

One of the most anticipated improvements is the relocated and redesigned Mathskeller, the math tutoring center that previously occupied a basement space. The resource center, which was temporarily moved to Patterson Office Tower during construction, will return to an improved second-floor location that is more accessible to students.

The renovation addresses longstanding concerns about the building's dated appearance and functionality. The building had not undergone major updates since the 1960s, leaving it with limited collaborative spaces and outdated infrastructure. White Hall serves as the primary classroom building on campus, with most undergraduate students attending at least one class there, making the modernization essential for student success.

University officials stressed that extensive planning with faculty, the registrar's office and academic leadership will ensure the reopened building reflects the intellectual diversity of UK's academic programs. The project is on track to meet its fall 2026 completion date.