Northern Kentucky University has broken ground on an $86 million expansion of the Dorothy Westerman Herrmann Science Center on its Highland Heights campus.
The project will add an 85,400 square-foot addition to the existing science center, allowing several academic programs to consolidate their spaces into one state-of-the-art, STEM-focused facility, according to the university. The scope of the project also involves renovating 19,000 square feet of the existing science center.
NKU officials marked the start of the project on Thursday with an official groundbreaking ceremony. Those in attendance included Kentucky state Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer and state Rep. Rachel Roberts along with stakeholders and university officials, including President Cady Short-Thompson who called the project a “significant milestone for the university.”
“The new facility will provide our natural sciences and engineering technology programs with a competitive edge, supporting our growing enrollment in these critical fields while allowing us to continue to provide an accessible and high-quality education for all,” Short-Thompson said. “It underscores our unwavering commitment to excellence in STEM+Health education and research, positioning NKU as a regional leader in innovation, workforce alignment and academic achievement.”
Investing in a STEM-focused future
NKU has grown in recent years to a student body of more than 15,000 students. Since the opening of the Herrmann Science Center Rin 2002, student demand for STEM-related programs has increased by 50%.
The expansion aims to centralize NKU’s science programs into one modern facility with upgraded technology and instrumentation, creating new opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations and dedicated facilities for K-12 STEM outreach. It will also enable the university to “significantly enhance” its lab and student research space in departments including biological sciences and engineering technology, per NKU.
The university views the proximity of the enhanced science center to its Norse Network Hub as a way to expand partnerships with the region’s life sciences and advanced manufacturing industries, providing students with new internship, co-op and hands-on learning opportunities.
Funding for the addition comes from a $79.9 million capital investment approved by the Kentucky General Assembly in the 2022-2024 biennial budget and $6 million in asset preservation funds provided by the 2022 General Assembly. The architect for the project is Omni Architects and the construction manager is Skanska USA Building, Inc.
NKU anticipates the project will be done by spring 2027.
“Thrilled to have been a small part of the expanding footprint of Northern Kentucky University,” Roberts posted on LinkedIn. “Congrats on a great event and a fantastic new chapter for students.”
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