Kentucky Promise
KENTUCKY PROMISE
A historic building re-envisioned as a catalyst for urban redevelopment
To help with a neighborhood rebrand and identity curation, MKThink assessed the health of the existing environment to establish a baseline to measure future building performance. The team collaborated with ecologists to develop a "Living Lab" by building analogs of natural environmental niches to serve as an experiential teaching tool and combine collaborative work and research spaces. MKThink also designed a small grocery store and rooftop dining to engage the community, scientists, engineers, children, and tourists in a dialogue on health and the environment.
CHALLENGE
To develop a catalyst for healthy and thriving urban revitalization by renovating a historically significant building in downtown Louisville.
APPROACH
MKThink collected data on the health of the existing environment to establish a baseline to measure future building performance. The team collaborated with ecologists to develop and build analogs of natural environmental niches, enabling the building to serve as an experiential teaching tool.
RESULT
A “Living Lab” that combines collaborative work and research spaces, coupled with a small grocery and rooftop dining, to engage the community, scientists, engineers, children, and tourists in a dialogue on health and the environment.
DATE
2013
CITY
Louisville
STATE
Kentucky
SIZE/SCALE
100,000 SF
MARKET
Historic Building
SERVICES
Schematic Design, Concept Development, Architectural Design, Environmental Analysis, 4Daptive (Data Management), and Business Planning.