University of Louisville Opens $90M Speed School Engineering Building

The University of Louisville has opened a new $90 million Student Success & Research Building for its J.B. Speed School of Engineering, marking a major investment in engineering education and innovation. The 114,000-square-foot, four-story facility consolidates classrooms, labs, conference rooms, a makerspace, and student support services under one roof, providing hands-on instruction and industry experience. Funded largely by a $65 million state appropriation, with additional private donations, the building aims to prepare future engineering leaders to meet Kentucky's growing technology-driven workforce needs. Officials including UofL President Gerry Bradley, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Senate President Robert Stivers highlighted the building's role in driving economic growth and strengthening Louisville and Kentucky’s competitiveness. The opening coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Speed School, emphasizing its longstanding impact on the region's economic engine. Classes in the new facility are set to begin in January 2026, reinforcing UofL's reputation as a premier engineering institution.