By Jamie Johnson, Building Kentucky
Berea College has begun construction on a new building that will replace the recently demolished Edwards Building on Berea College’s campus.
The new building, which will be located near the corner of Main Street and Estill Street, will house dedicated student spaces with flexible and modern learning and gathering rooms. These new spaces will help prepare students for the world that awaits them, including space that showcases programs dedicated to the workplace of the future, problem/solution-based learning, and preparation for internships. Additionally, the new building will house the alumni and philanthropy units of the college’s Alumni, Communications and Philanthropy division. Vertical openings and open staircases are expected to further enhance collaboration between floors, fostering interaction throughout the building.
Berea College has worked with Luckett & Farley, a Kentucky-based architecture, engineering and interior design firm, to build a building that is prepared to help students succeed in the future while honoring the historic past of the Edwards Building.
“We are very excited to give appropriate recognition to the Edwards Building in this new replacement building,” said Chad Berry, vice president for Alumni, Communications and Philanthropy at Berea College. “It will be exciting to have a building that resembles Edwards on the outside, but that is modern and functional for students, alumni and friends, and staff on the inside.”
The design pays homage to the historical significance of the original Edwards Building. Inside, the first-floor atrium features the original cornerstone alongside bricks salvaged from the old structure. On the exterior, custom bricks crafted by a local company replicate the appearance of the original building’s brickwork, while architectural details reflect key elements of the 1902 design.
Project managers were able to identify the local brickmaker and aggregate mix to ensure the new building aligns seamlessly with its historic context. This meticulous attention to detail ensures the building’s exterior aligns seamlessly with the character of the historic campus, creating a modern space that honors tradition and serves the needs of Berea College’s community.
“We’ve assembled a talented design and construction team for this project that includes a number of Minority and Women-owned Businesses in our region. With direction and feedback from our campus community, the building design does a wonderful job in paying homage to the original Edwards Building endeared by so many,” said Berry.
The new building will be LEED Silver certified, incorporating building occupant health and wellness design strategies not typically required by current building codes. Other sustainable imperatives will be achieved by focusing on energy efficiency, thermal comfort, water-use reduction, use of natural lighting and recycled materials.
“Luckett & Farley is in the business of student success – we’re dedicated to designing spaces that spark creativity, collaboration and connections for students, faculty and the community,” said Aric Andrew, director, higher education design studio for Luckett & Farley.
A time-lapse camera over the site will allow viewers to capture construction as it progresses and have that publicly available. The feed can be found at https://www.berea.college/edwardsbuilding.
Parking for the building will be approximately the size of the previous parking lot and will accommodate visitors to the nearby Stephenson Building as well. The project is targeted to be completed in the winter of 2025.
