New UK football facility: Quintessentially Bluegrass State, thanks to manufactured stone

The new $45 million, 100,000-sf Joe Craft Football Training Facility at the University of Kentucky opened its doors in July, providing the school’s football program with state-of-the-art practice, training, treatment, study, and recreation spaces and amenities.

The design team, led by Ross Tarrant Architects and HNTB, wanted to create a modern aesthetic with a uniquely Bluegrass State feel. Exterior and interior design elements include Kentucky limestone and reclaimed barn wood. Although natural Kentucky limestone is widely available in the state, the team went with a manufactured stone product from Arriscraft, in order to benefit from its consistency and ease of installation.

The architects specified Old Country Building Stone (Smoky Mountain color) for the main exterior walls and as an accent in the foyer. For dramatic effect, the stone was laid in a sleek coursed pattern as opposed to the standard ashlar pattern. The stone’s rugged split-face texture and linear lines creates a natural, stately finish.