A New Future for Hands-On Learning
Education is most powerful when students can see themselves in what's possible.
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Fayette County Public Schools
The Hub for Innovative Learning and Leadership (The HILL)
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Location
Lexington, Kentucky
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Year
2026
Learning environments that connect classroom experiences with real-world opportunities inspire curiosity, build confidence, and prepare students with the skills they need to thrive. As workforce needs continue to evolve, Career and Technical Education plays an increasingly important role in helping students explore meaningful career pathways and discover their potential.
The HILL brings that vision to life. Through the adaptive reuse of the former Lexington Herald-Leader facility, Fayette County Public Schools united the Southside and Eastside Technical Centers into a centralized campus that serves more than 1,000 students. More than a new building, The HILL creates opportunities for students to learn with industry-relevant technology, collaborate across disciplines, and engage in hands-on experiences that prepare them for the future. By reimagining an iconic Lexington landmark, the project connects the building’s legacy of innovation with a new generation of learners.
The design reflects both the history of the building and the future of education.
Expansive glass opens the facility to the community, replacing views of printing presses with students designing, building, creating, and solving problems. Industrial materials, bold graphics, digital-inspired murals, and newspaper-inspired wayfinding celebrate the site’s past while establishing a vibrant identity for the programs within. The result is more than a Career and Technical Education center. It is a place where education, industry, and community come together to strengthen the region’s workforce and expand opportunities for generations to come.
