AIA Kentucky to provide toolkits for all incoming UK architecture students
Incoming architecture students at the University of Kentucky College of Design will begin their design education this fall with support from the state’s professional architecture community through a new partnership with AIA Kentucky, the Kentucky society of the American Institute of Architects.
For Fall 2026, every incoming UK School of Architecture undergraduate student will receive a sponsored toolkit containing supplies that students are required to purchase before their first semester. Each toolkit will include a lockable footlocker, trace paper, an architectural scale, tape measure, multi-tool hammer, torpedo level, USB flash drive, desk lamp, sketchbook and needle nose pliers to be used throughout their time in the program.
The idea emerged during ongoing conversations between AIA Kentucky leadership, UK College of Design Dean Ned Crankshaw and UK School of Architecture Director Jeffrey Johnson about how the organization could expand its impact beyond traditional scholarship support.
“By providing this toolkit, AIA Kentucky is helping to remove barriers that might otherwise distract from learning, persistence and success during a critical transition into architectural education,” said Kelly Ives, executive vice president of AIA Kentucky and 2003 UK architecture alum. “Rather than limiting support to only a few scholarship recipients, this initiative intentionally broadens access so that every first-year student benefits, regardless of financial background, helping to create a more equitable and accessible pathway into the profession.”
The partnership is estimated to save incoming architecture students approximately $250 in out-of-pocket expenses before their first semester, but according to Ives, the organization hopes the initiative communicates more than just financial support.
“The toolkit sends a message that students are valued, supported and already connected to a network that believes in their potential to shape the built environment,” Ives said. “Through the branded supplies and visible support of AIA Kentucky, the organization hopes students will feel welcomed into a larger professional community, recognize that architects across Kentucky are rooting for their success, and begin to see themselves as future contributors to the profession.”
Johnson said the partnership reflects a shared commitment between the School of Architecture and Kentucky’s professional design community to support students as they transition into the demands of studio-based education.
“AIA Kentucky has a long tradition of supporting our students and the next generation of architects. This gift is indicative of their commitment to strengthening the connection between education and practice while advancing the future of architecture in Kentucky and beyond,” Johnson said.
Incoming architecture students can expect to receive communication via email later this summer outlining how to claim their toolkit and identifying any additional materials they will still need to purchase.
The toolkit initiative marks the first collaboration of its kind between AIA Kentucky and the UK School of Architecture. If successful, the organizations hope to continue the program in future academic years.