Schmidt Associates and HKS are partnering on the Phase I development of the Kentucky Exposition Center, a project valued at $180 million that will enhance and expand Louisville, Kentucky’s most popular exhibition space.
This collaborative venture combines Schmidt Associates’ local relationships and intimate knowledge of the Midwest’s built environment with HKS’s global perspective and design innovation, marking a significant investment in Louisville’s infrastructure and its role as a central hub for the agricultural community and major events in the Midwest.
The Phase I project encompasses a comprehensive range of property improvements that could include the addition of a new exhibition hall, expansions and renovations of the North Wing and East Hall, kitchen enhancements, as well as infrastructure and demolition work. This endeavor will further enhance the Kentucky Exposition Center’s capacity, boasting 1.2 million square feet of indoor space, 56 meeting rooms, and over 430 acres of outdoor space. It plays host to four of the five largest annual events in Louisville, including the Mid-America Trucking Show and the National Farm Machinery Show and Championship Tractor Pull.
The Kentucky Exposition Center Phase I project demonstrates to the power of collaboration between firms that share a commitment to excellence in design, servant leadership, and a vision for creating spaces that bring people together, support local economies, and celebrate culture.
Through this joint venture, Schmidt Associates and HKS, along with GH2 Equine Architects, CMTA, Brown+Kubican, Walter P. Moore, SDI Consulting, HDR, CARMAN, and Robert Pass & Associates, are poised to deliver a state-of-the-art facility that will write the next chapter in the Kentucky Exposition Center’s 70-year history while serving as a cornerstone for Louisville, the agricultural community, and the Midwest.
