The University of Kansas is moving forward with its new entrepreneurship hub, revealing comprehensive details and architectural renderings for the facility. This new hub, located at 1420 Crescent Road, will provide a dedicated space for student innovators from across various disciplines, aiming to foster entrepreneurial success outside the traditional business school setting.
Key Takeaways
- New 33,000 square foot entrepreneurship hub planned for KU campus.
- Project is privately funded by a $10 million donor gift.
- Designed to serve students from all academic fields, not just business.
- Public-facing first floor for pitches and forums.
- Features a 71-foot limestone tower with functional fireplaces.
New Vision for Entrepreneurial Education
The former Jayhawk Bookstore and McLain’s Bakery building at 1420 Crescent Road has been demolished. This clears the way for a modern, purpose-built facility. KU Endowment acquired the property in March 2024, recognizing the need for a central hub to support the university's growing entrepreneurship programs.
The project is fully privately funded. A generous $10 million gift from an anonymous donor is specifically supporting the new construction. This financial backing highlights the strong commitment to fostering innovation within the university community.
Quick Fact
The new entrepreneurship hub will offer nearly 33,000 square feet of usable space across three floors. The first floor alone will encompass approximately 10,400 square feet.
Designed for Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Dan Nenonen, an architect with PGAV Architects, and Monte Soukup of KU Endowment presented the project to the Historic Resources Commission on December 18, 2025. They emphasized that the hub's design supports its core mission: to serve a diverse student body.
Soukup highlighted a crucial point: the majority of students involved in KU's entrepreneurship programs are not business majors. They come from fields like architecture, engineering, and liberal arts. This new hub provides a neutral, prominent location on campus for these varied programs.
"Entrepreneurs typically have four attempts at starting to build a program before they have a successful one, so part of the idea is they get one or two of those out of their way while they’re a student," Soukup explained.
This philosophy underpins the entire design, aiming to create a supportive environment for iterative learning and development.
Building Features and Student Engagement
The ground floor of the new building is designed to be highly public and interactive. It will host "Shark Tank"-style pitch events, allowing students to present their ideas to potential investors and mentors. Forums with successful entrepreneurs will also take place here, providing valuable networking and learning opportunities.
The second floor will feature dedicated classroom spaces. These rooms will support formal instruction and workshops for students participating in various entrepreneurial initiatives. The third floor will house a catalyst program, designed to accelerate promising student ventures.
Historical Context
The site at 1420 Crescent Road previously hosted the Jayhawk Bookstore for decades, which closed in 2016. McLain’s Bakery then occupied the space for five years before closing in 2023. The building's demolition received approval from the Historic Resources Commission in July.
Architectural Highlights
The building's design includes several notable architectural elements. From the front, the structure will appear to be two stories, with the third floor set back. A fourth-floor penthouse will house mechanical equipment for heating and cooling, also set back to minimize its visual impact.
A striking 71-foot-tall limestone tower will anchor the building. This tower will feature functional fireplaces on all three floors. These fireplaces are strategically placed in common areas to encourage student interaction.
"That’s ideation, creation space for those people… it’s one of the things that makes the program click," Soukup stated, referring to the communal fireplace areas.
PGAV Architects principal Steve Cramer mentioned that the tower's height was significantly reduced from initial plans. He noted that the tower helps the building "stand proud and be visible" from different campus vantage points.
Approval and Future Steps
The project received a 6-0 vote from the Historic Resources Commission for a certificate of approval. This approval came with a condition: the commission's Architectural Review Committee must greenlight the final design. The project still requires other regulatory approvals.
The exact timeline for construction remains unclear following the recent discussions. However, the unveiling of these detailed plans marks a significant step forward for the University of Kansas in enhancing its entrepreneurial ecosystem. The hub aims to be a beacon of innovation, supporting the next generation of student entrepreneurs.
