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 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At 33,000 square feet, the new facility is almost twice as large as the current, outdated one.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. 

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 Featured in ArchDaily

The EOP-designed Southland Christian Church is featured in ArchDaily, a premier forum showcasing the world's best architecture with 45 million pageviews a month.

Click here to read the article. 

EOP to Design New Clinic for HealthFirst

After searching all over Lexington for months for a building to renovate, HealthFirst Bluegrass announced Wednesday the planned demolition of a 29,000-square-foot building at 496 Southland Drive and an 11,000-square-foot adjacent building. An $11.7 million federal grant initially pegged for renovation will be used for constructing a new clinic.

Rick Ekhoff, AIA, LEED AP, will lead the design of the new clinic.  "As a medical facility, especially one that will serve a good number of children, the building will have to feel inviting, not threatening."

Read the Herald-Leader article here.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/10/24/2383571/renovation-is-out-construction.html#storylink=cpy

EOP's CentrePointe Design Approved

LEXINGTON, KY - March 28, 2012.  At a special meeting of the Courthouse Area Design Review Board today, the mixed-use development CentrePointe was unanimously approved. This was the last hurdle in the sometimes controversial project.

"We would've gone nowhere if we hadn't passed today. So this was the last big hurdle in terms of clearing the government requirements. So huge day," said EOP's Rick Ekhoff.

Next for the project is coming up with the finance package. Currently Jeff Ruby's, Saul Good, Urban Active and J.W. Marriott have committed to the block, with several banks expressing interest as well.

Click on the links below to read more about the project from various media outlets.

WKYT-TV
WTVQ-TV
Herald-Leader's Beverly Fortune
Herald-Leader's Tom Eblen

Business Lexington Features CentrePointe

In the March 16th edition of Business Lexington, Celeste Lewis writes an overview of the CentrePointe project in downtown Lexington, with a spotlight on the collaborative efforts of four local architecture firms.

Click here to read the article. 

For more information on the project, click here.

Tom Eblen Says CentrePointe "Looks Great"

In his blog for the Lexington Herald-Leader, Tom Eblen writes, "The designs look terrific, thanks to a long, difficult but ultimately very productive process of architectural refinement and public input."

EOP held a Public Forum for CentrePointe on March 1st at ArtsPlace.

Click here to read Tom's blog.

Click here for more information on CentrePointe.

WTVQ-TV Airs Segment on New Plans for CentrePointe

WTVQ-TV's Jacqueline Sprague was at the March 1st Public Forum for CentrePointe and spoke with quite a few of those in attendance.

"I think it's great. I think it incorporates a lot of different aspects.  It's satisfying a lot of different interested parties and I think it does a nice job of pulling those things together," said one member of the crowd of 200.

To watch the segment, click here.

To learn more about CentrePointe, click here.

CentrePointe Is Innovative Architecture

As Tom Eblen writes in his Herald-Leader column, EOP "designed a stunning building for the corner of Vine and Limestone. One review board member likened it to the 'bird's nest' stadium built for the Beijing Olympics, but it reminded me more of a forest. Some people won't like it, but it struck me as the kind of innovative architecture Lexington could use more of."

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/02/18/2074673/latest-version-of-centrepointe.html#storylink=cpy

Click here to read the article.

For more information on the CentrePointe project, click here.

WKYT-TV Interviews EOP's Rick Ekhoff on CentrePointe Design

WKYT-TV's Sean Evans interviewed Rick Ekhoff, EOP's design principal, today on the new designs for CentrePointe.

Click here to watch the segment.

To learn more about CentrePointe, click here.  

EOP Selected to Design NET ZERO Facility for Boone National Guard Center

EOP Architects, in partnership with Mason & Hanger, has been selected to design the new Army Aviation Support Facility at the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Kentucky. The new 125,000 sf hangar will house the Army’s Black Hawk helicopters as well as fixed wing aircraft. The facility will be a NET zero energy building, which uses the power grid to offset energy demands during peak times and contributes excess energy produced during low demand periods over the course of a year, equal to what is used when compared to what is produced.

For additional information, click here

EOP...One of the Gang

Chicago architecture firm, Studio Gang, is collaborating on the CentrePointe project with a team of five Lexington-based architects to provide local character to the large project. Firms were chosen from a pool of 25 applicants based on their design background and past collaboration experience.


Click here to read the article.

EOP collaborating with Studio Gang on the CentrePointe development

Rick Ekhoff commented at July's public meeting, "EOP Architects is overwhelmed at being selected" as one of five Kentucky architecture firms to work with Studio Gang on the CentrePointe development project. (Rendering by Studio Gang.)


"This is one of the most significant things to happen in downtown in a long time, and we're happy to be a part of it," he said.


Chicago architect Jeanne Gang, whose firm came up with the design, announced the Kentucky firms that will participate in the project. Gang unveiled a plan including a 30-story tower to include a hotel, apartments and condominiums; an eight-story office building; a pedestrian passway through the block; and several small buildings, including five that would face Main Street. The taller building is made up of a bundle of tubes of different heights, arranged to allow sunshine and air to flow between them. Roof gardens would top several of the tubes.


Click here to read the full article.

Shorty's Urban Market Celebrates Grand Opening

Shorty's Urban Market celebrated its grand opening this past weekend at 163 West Short Street. The independently owned downtown grocery store carries meat, produce and sundries.

Check out Tops in Lex's pictures of the event, as well as the Shorty's Facebook page.

Triangle Foundation Reveals Plan for Redesigned Triangle Park

The Triangle Foundation released the plans for the new design of downtown Lexington's Triangle Park.

EOP Architects and landscape architecture firm M2D Design Group are working with the Triangle Foundation on the redesign of the park. Improvements will feature a central lawn, outdoor café, activity areas for chess and ping pong and a seasonal ice-skating rink.

Check out the Lexington Herald Leader's story about the redesign of Triangle Park.

Grocery Store to Open in Downtown Lexington

EOP is working with Darren Teodoro and an investor group on the design of a new independently owned grocery store in downtown Lexington. The new store--Shorty's, The Urban Market--will be located at 163 West Short Street in the Traditional Bank Building. The market will carry meat, produce, and sundries and is intended to serve the downtown community.

Design elements will include brick walls and antique wood floors as well as a large vault door, left from the space's previous use as a bank, that will serve as a major focal point.

Read the Lexington Herald-Leader's coverage of the market.

Southland Christian Church Reveals Design of New Campus

Southland Christian Church released architectural renderings of its plans for the old Lexington Mall on Richmond Road. EOP has been working with Southland on the design that will transform the vacant property into an additional campus for the church. The plans include the renovation of the old Dillard's store into educational space. Adjacent to this, a 49,000 sf 2,800-seat worship center will be added.

Check out additional renderings of the project.

Read the Lexington Herald-Leader's coverage.

Southland Seeks Input from Community

Southland Christian Church held a community meeting yesterday evening at the old Lexington Mall property--the site of their planned Lexington campus.

The informal public meeting was a chance for the community to share ideas for Southland's new campus. EOP Architects and other members of the design team were on hand to answer questions and explain a preliminary site plan.

Read the Lexington Herald-Leader's coverage of the event.