Q: What is the Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence?
A: The Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence is a 250,000-square-foot academic facility being developed on a 1.89-acre site at 11 East Rivercenter Blvd. in downtown Covington. The building will house the Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s Northern Kentucky campus. Groundbreaking for the project took place on June 11, 2026, and construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
Q: Why was this location selected for the project?
A: The building will be located in an urban, walkable area that provides students with access to nearby amenities. UK College of Medicine students will be located just blocks from LifeSciKY, CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services, Bexion Pharmaceuticals, Gravity Diagnostics, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s Covington campus. Chase College of Law students will study within two miles of the region’s 25 largest law firms and five federal and state courthouses.
Q: What parking accommodations are planned for the development?
A: The project includes a 168-space parking garage, with 35 dedicated spaces for short-term visits and retail or restaurant patrons. The building is also adjacent to the Kenton County Parking Garage, which has space for 1,500 vehicles. There is further parking available on side streets, and numerous other parking garages and lots are located just blocks from the Commonwealth Center. Find more parking information here: https://covpark.com/.
Q: Who are the key partners involved in the Commonwealth Center project?
A: Key partners include Kenton County, the Northern Kentucky Port Authority, Northern Kentucky University, and the University of Kentucky.
Q: Who is leading the design and construction effort?
A: The design-build team, named in March 2026, consists of Pepper Construction, MSA Design, SLAM, THP Limited, Heapy, The Kleingers Group, and Design 27.
Q: Who serves as the owner’s representative for the project?
A: HDR, named in September 2024, is serving as the owner’s representative.
Q: How is the project being funded?
A: The Northern Kentucky delegation to the Kentucky General Assembly—including Representatives Kim Banta, Stephanie Dietz and Kim Moser, and Senators Shelley Funke Frommeyer and Chris McDaniel—championed the effort to secure $125 million in state funding for the Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence through House Bill 1.
Q: What is the NKY Port Authority’s role in the project?
A: The NKY Port Authority, which owns 11 East Rivercenter Boulevard and will own the building, is working closely with Northern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky on plans for the Commonwealth Center. Design and construction contracts are held by the NKY Port Authority and, after opening, the NKY Port Authority will continue to own and operate the building.
Q: What does the NKY Port Authority hope to achieve through projects like this one?
A: The NKY Port Authority values partnership and collaboration with the cities and counties it serves and aims to deliver transformational projects and commercial real estate solutions that elevate communities and create a better life for all residents. This project will bring vibrancy and hundreds of NKU and UK students and faculty to the Covington riverfront.
Q: How does the NKY Port Authority support economic development?
A: The NKY Port Authority provides unique real estate and development tools for Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties. Each project it undertakes is unique and often involves developments that are difficult for the private sector to finance. Projects typically include a distinct combination of partners, such as local governments, nonprofit organizations, and businesses, working together to contribute to the region’s economic prosperity.
Q: Where can I find more information and updates about the Commonwealth Center?
A: Visit nkyport.org to find more information and up-to-date news articles, about the Commonwealth Center.
About the Northern Kentucky Port Authority
The Northern Kentucky Port Authority (NKY Port) was jointly formed as an economic development organization by Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in 1968 under the provisions of KRS 65.510 to 65.650. BE NKY Growth Partnership activated the NKY Port Authority in 2022 as a real estate and development tool as a key initiative of the Build + Elevate Northern Kentucky investor campaign, providing staffing and back office support.
