By Abigail Wright
NKyTribune reporter
Local and state leaders gathered Thursday to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence, a first-of-its-kind project that will bring legal and medical education together under one roof in downtown Covington.
The center, located at 11 East Rivercenter Blvd., will become the future home of Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Northern Kentucky Campus, with construction expected to reach completion by the end of 2028.
The project is the result of a partnership among NKU, UK, Kenton County and the Northern Kentucky Port Authority and was funded by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2024, according to a Kenton County press release.
Speakers at the ceremony included Sen. Chris McDaniel, NKU President Cady Short-Thompson, Chase College of Law Dean Judith Darr, UK College of Medicine-Northern Kentucky Campus Associate Dean Dr. Holly Danneman, St. Elizabeth Healthcare President and CEO Garren Colvin, and Covington Mayor Ron Washington.
According to Darr, the center represents a groundbreaking approach to higher education collaboration.
“This project is unique in the country,” Darr said. “Senator McDaniel’s vision to bring together two professional schools across two universities in a single space is novel, and will be the first of its kind in the nation, and I’m sure it will be a model that other institutions will follow.”
The center will house NKU’s law school, bringing more than 500 graduate students, faculty and staff to Covington. The relocation marks a return to the city for Chase College of Law, which operated in Covington from 1972 to 1981, according to the press release.
The new facility will also allow UK’s Northern Kentucky medical campus to increase enrollment by 40%, providing additional capacity to train future physicians in a region facing healthcare workforce shortages.
According to Danneman, the project reflects a long-term investment in healthcare access across the Commonwealth.
“We are celebrating a shared vision, a vision for educating future physicians, strengthening our healthcare workforce and advancing the health of Kentuckians for generations to come,” Danneman said.
Danneman also noted that Kentucky continues to face a shortage of physicians and said education is the answer.
“Many communities struggle to access the care they need when they need it. The solution begins with education,” Danneman said. “Research consistently shows that physicians are more likely to practice in the communities where they train. That is why this campus matters. That is why this building matters.”
According to Covington Mayor Ron Washington, locating the facility in the city’s urban core will benefit both students and local businesses.
“This investment is being made in the heart of our community,” Washington said. “Students from Northern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky who come here to learn will experience everything that makes the Cov special. They will have access to the walkability and vibrancy of our downtown. They will be able to visit the restaurants, shops and small businesses that make our entertainment districts truly unique destinations.”
The Commonwealth Center is expected to enhance workforce development, encourage economic growth and create new opportunities for students and employers while furthering Northern Kentucky’s reputation as a center for education, research and innovation, according to the press release.