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FRANKFORT – The Kentucky State University community celebrated the opening of a new Residence Hall on South Campus on Friday, August 4 - the first residence hall since 2008 to open on campus.

The 165,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art residence hall cost over $50 million and is completed prior to the fall 2023 semester. The residence hall includes 146 rooms and 408 beds for students, as well as learning and recreation spaces.

Dr. Koffi C. Akakpo, 19th President of Kentucky State University, was joined by university and community leaders for the ribbon cutting, including Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson; Rep. Derrick Graham; Sen. Donald Douglas; Rep. James Tipton; Rep. Emily Callaway; Dr. Aaron Thompson, President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE); Tish Shade, President and CEO of Frankfort Chamber of Commerce; and members of the Kentucky State University Board of Regents. Faculty, staff, students and alumni were also gathered in the standing room only crowd.

Dr. Akakpo said in his remarks that he hopes there will be more causes for community gathering and celebration at Kentucky State University soon.

“We have weathered some storms; we have gone through a lot,” Dr. Akakpo said. “But no matter how long the night lasts, a day always dawns. So the day is here for us.”

Megan Walsen of Red Draw Development, with whom Kentucky State partnered on the development of the residence hall, said this vision has been five years in the making.

“The vision was to provide a state-of-the-art facility to promote enrollment, retention and most important, student pride,” Walsen said. “We hope students find this to be a welcome and impressive home away from home.”

This was “a new day, with 137 years backing it up,” said Dr. Aaron Thompson, President of CPE. “What a way to open this year, with this renewed sense that there’s something great about to happen.”

Savion Briggs, student regent and Student Government Association President, said viewing the new residence hall made him reflect on his own days as a freshman at Kentucky State University and on his younger brother, who will start at Kentucky State in a few weeks.

“Kentucky State is in a great place, and the reason why it’s in a great place is because Kentucky State is ground zero for tomorrow’s leaders,” Briggs said.

“We need to start planning for the next building,” Dr. Akakpo said in closing.

A full 408 students are expected to move in to the South Campus Residence Hall for the fall semester. Classes begin for Kentucky State University students on Monday, August 21.

Images: From the Ribbon Cutting Event - Platform Party Cutting the Ribbon (top), Dr. Akakpo opening (bottom left) and Representative Tipton (bottom right) remarks.