In 2014 the University of Kentucky began a partnership with Aramark to transform dining services offered to students, faculty and staff.
Key provisions of the partnership with Aramark included:
- Reduced prices for student meal plans, with the most expensive plan falling in price by 26 percent or about $740 per semester
- $70 million in facilities investments, including $40 million in new facilities, including K-Lair at Haggin Hall and substantial upgrades to the Student Center Food Court
- Several new food brands located on campus
- More emphasis placed on nutrition and wellness with a full-time dietician hired by Aramark, digital menu boards, a nutrition website and mobile apps for nutrition and fitness instituted, among other innovations
- Significant increases in Kentucky Proud and local food purchasing
- Significant sustainability initiatives such as the hiring of a full-time sustainability coordinator and implementation of Green Thread business practices, including waste stream management practices, minimizing food waste and supporting composting, energy audits and other energy and conservation initiatives
In response to high participation in student meal plans, in 2019 the university began construction on the expansion of Gatton Student Center dining hall Champions Kitchen. A feasibility study commissioned by UK and conducted by Omni Architects examined expanding the current Champions Kitchen dining area east toward the parking lot and the Singletary Center for the Arts. The study also recommended that it would be most cost effective to construct additional floors above the expanded dining space that can be fitted out as needed to provide student support and other services.
The full scope of the expansion approved by the UK Board of Trustees is $25 million. Partial funding will be provided by UK dining partner, Aramark.
