EOP + HOK Selected to Redesign Kentucky International Convention Center

LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 20, 2014 — EOP Architects in collaboration with HOK's Chicago Practice has been selected for the redesign of the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) in downtown Louisville. EOP+HOK will consult with architect Don Grinberg of Boston, one of the country's leading consultants on convention facilities design.

"We are thrilled to 'kick-start' KICC," quipped Rick Ekhoff, EOP's design principal. "We're delighted to work with HOK, the Finance Cabinet, the Kentucky Fair Board and the entire team on this monumental project for Louisville and for the Commonwealth of Kentucky."

The convention center spans Third Street between Jefferson and Market streets and officials view its renovation as critical if Louisville intends to retain and grow its share of the lucrative trade show and convention business.

Read the Courier Journal article here.
Read the Business First article here.

EOP Designs The Apiary

LEXINGTON, Ky., July 28, 2014 — EOP Architects has designed The Apiary, a new 15,000-square-foot catering and event space soon to open in Lexington’s fashionable Jefferson Street entertainment district.

"This project is another example of our commitment to downtown Lexington, where we have been located for over 30 years," remarked principal Brent Bruner, AIA, lead designer for The Apiary. "We enjoy projects of all sizes so The Apiary is a wonderful complement to our other downtown projects like Rupp Arena, the Lexington Convention Center, Shorty's, Main + Rose and the Old Fayette County Courthouse."

EOP is working with Matthew Carter Interiors and Jon Carloftis to create a one-of-a-kind experience at The Apiary. The largest venue is the 2,000-square-foot Orangery, which has a 10-foot by 30-foot skylight and 18-foot-tall windows designed to match antique shutters. There is also the 1,000-square-foot Winter Room, an intimate tasting room beside the kitchen, and a French limestone terrace that can accommodate large tents.

EOP used salvage materials throughout the design. Reclaimed brick, wood flooring and beams came from old tobacco warehouses. Stone was salvaged from a farm that belongs to the owners' uncle. Pavers were once part of a barn at Hamburg Place horse farm. Massive pine doors came from Argentina, and two antique stone fountains in the courtyard are from Europe.

The brick and stone courtyard walls are accented with custom wrought iron created by artists Matthew and Karine Maynard of Maynard Studios in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

"They wanted it to have a substantial feel that at the same time is modern and fits into an urban setting," continues Bruner. "The level of craftsmanship they wanted is not what you see a lot these days."

Since the kitchen opened, the owner has given rent-free office space to Seedleaf, a Lexington nonprofit. Seedleaf works to increase the supply of affordable, nutritious and sustainably produced local food for people at risk of hunger in Central Kentucky. It sponsors community gardens, restaurant composting programs and classes that teach cooking and food-preservation skills.

To read Tom Eblen's article in the Herald-Leader, click here. 

For more information on The Apiary, click here. 

EOP Designs New Senior Citizen Center

LEXINGTON, Ky., June 1, 2014 — Nutrition, exercise and socialization. These three basic needs enrich the quality of life for the elder population, which is one of the fastest growing demographics groups in the U.S. When one realizes the impact of a senior center and how it plays a pivotal role in enriching lives, the potentials are humbling.

EOP Architects, with specialized consulting services by Catlin+Petrovick, is designing Lexington’s New Senior Citizen Center so that elders have the tools and opportunities to remain independent, healthy and involved. The facility, expected to open during the winter of 2015, will be located near the intersection of New Circle and Richmond roads in Idle Hour Park.

At 33,000 square feet, the new facility is almost twice as large as the current, outdated one. Seniors will enjoy planned programs including art activities, educational classes, recreational (dance and exercise) classes, a game area, cafes and library.

Click here for more information on this project. 

Lexington Herald-Leader article.

Mayor Gray Unveils Rupp Arena Re-Invention

LEXINGTON, Ky., February 10, 2014 — Mayor Jim Gray unveiled designs today for a $310 million renovation and redesign of Rupp Arena that includes a transparent facade and moving and expanding the convention center to the west of Lexington’s most well-known landmark.

The designs by NBBJ and EOP Architects include removing the current convention center and moving it to the west of Rupp Arena, allowing for expanding and “freeing” the storied home of University of Kentucky’s men’s basketball program. 

The exterior of Rupp will include glass or transparent outer walls that allow for more interaction between the street and what’s going on inside, architects have said. The second story will have areas where people can see inside — particularly at the corners of the building. 

To view the video, click here. 

For more information about the project, click here. 

To view media coverage, click here. 

EOP Wins Design Award from AIA Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky., September 20, 2013 — The AIA Kentucky announced winners of its design awards for 2013 at the annual Excellence in Architectural Design ceremony in Louisville. For the sixth consecutive year, EOP Architects took home an award.

This year's award recognizes EOP's design for the former Lexington Mall, dramatically changing it into the Richmond Road Campus of Southland Christian Church. 

Jury comments included, "Wow — a complete transformation of an unused eyesore."

Click here to read the Herald-Leader article.

For more information and to view more images of Southland Christian Church, click here. 

NBBJ + EOP Named Architect of Rupp Arena and Lexington Convention Center Renovations

July 10, 2013, LEXINGTON, KY – Today, Mayor of Lexington Jim Gray announced award-winning architecture firm NBBJ, in collaboration with Lexington-based EOP Architects, will design the new Rupp Arena and Lexington Convention Center projects.

Named after legendary University of Kentucky Men’s basketball coach Adolf Rupp, Rupp Arena has been home to University of Kentucky Wildcats Basketball for 40 years and is considered to be hallowed ground in collegiate basketball. The revamped Rupp Arena will feature expanded concourse spaces; a completely revitalized bowl with chair-back seats throughout; a new hospitality level with premium suite seating; a new center hung-scoreboard; and a host of other amenities that will preserve the authenticity of the original arena while providing a fresh experience for fans and team personnel.

“The reimagining of Rupp Arena and the Lexington Convention Center must be approached as one project,” said NBBJ Partner Robert Mankin. “Together they will become the commercial, sports, and entertainment destination that transforms Lexington. We are honored to work with the City of Lexington on this defining project.”

The overall seat count of 23,500 will remain after the renovation. In the next four months, the City of Lexington and the University of Kentucky will work with NBBJ + EOP to finalize the design concept, with groundbreaking scheduled for the fall of 2014. Once the project is underway, a phased construction schedule will allow the Wildcats to play basketball at Rupp during renovations.

Meantime, the renovation and expansion of Lexington Center will add approximately 100,000 square feet to the facility by doubling space for exhibitions, while adding a new ballroom and meeting room spaces. The design will eliminate existing inefficiencies that make it difficult for Rupp Arena and the Lexington Center to hold separate events at the same time. In both projects, the design seeks to create a more dynamic and transparent connection between the events taking place inside and the City of Lexington.

Read Herald-Leader article here. 

Watch Mayor Gray's announcement here.

For more information on NBBJ, click here. 

EOP Project Featured on Cover of Designer

LEXINGTON, Ky., June 14, 2013 — EOP Architects' renovation of Southland Christian Church is on the cover of Worship Facilities Designer magazine's Summer issue. EOP's Design Principal Rick Ekhoff discusses his philosophies on how design excellence applies to architecture.

Click here to read the article.