The University of Kentucky’s College of Design opened the Gray Design Building before the start of the 2024-25 academic year, benefiting students for years to come, and giving them a place to call home on campus.
The new learning space is located on Scott Street and, and features open studios, a gallery and space for lectures and public gatherings.
Once an old tobacco warehouse, historical features and the original structure were kept and woven into a new design creating an active learning environment for College of Design students.
The pricey renovation was possible because of the $5.2 million donation Gray Inc. gifted to the College of Design.
Gray Inc. is a family-owned company with expertise in engineering, design and construction.
At the forefront of construction plans, The Gray Design Building was created with design students in mind.
Sophia Gramatis, a sophomore majoring in interior design, said she values the impact the new design building has had on her quality of education in the College of Design.
“Having a new space that was designed for design students is something that I think helps a lot of us in our learning environment,” Gramatis said.
Design students use their new building as an example of how design has impacted their learning experience, inspiring them to create projects relating to education.
“This semester our studio was based on education and how education affects design,” Gramatis said.
The new building allows students from the four disciplines of design to collaborate during projects.
Kianna Diehlman, a sophomore interior design major, emphasized how important it is for her to work with peers.
“My favorite thing about the Gray Design Building is that it’s an open space where we get to interact with all the disciplines in the college,” Diehlman said.
After graduation, individuals in the design field collaborate with members of the other disciplines of design, so it is crucial for College of Design students to work together in college even if they do not share the same major.
“We get to talk with architecture, product design, landscape architecture, and work with them… this helps us in the real world when we have to do projects,” Diehlman said.
Because the new space was designed to enrich their education, the Gray Design Building gives the next generation of designers and architects insight into how they will impact lives in their future careers, one design at a time.
