University of Kansas Central District Development

Spread over 40 acres, this project impacts every aspect of university life –from classwork and research to studying and gathering –for students, faculty, staff, and visitors of the University of Kansas.

The focal point of the Central District is the new Integrated Science Building (ISB), which creates new space for teaching, learning and interdisciplinary research. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to spawn multidisciplinary research and serve as an anchoring point for collaboration among KU’s research centers and campuses. Additionally, the ISB houses a Clean Room as well as a Microscopy Suite for a “Nano-Scope,” one of the first in North America.  The ISB is the first steel construction building on Campus.

The new student union includes numerous student services in addition to a full kitchen, coffee shop, reflection room, convenience store, and main event hall.

The project also included a new Central Utility Plant, as well as extensive sitework, including new KU Athletics natural turf practice fields, and more than 2,100 hew parking spaces, including surface parking and a new four-story, 617-space parking garage.

Perkins + Will was the project architect. The project was led by developer Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate.