Demolition has begun on Douglas Keen and Hugh Poland dorms, as well as on The Den by Denny’s restaurant and The Pit Stop convenience store on campus. 

WKU plans to replace these facilities with a 1,000-bed dorm hall set to open in August 2028. 

“Work to clear the site of the new residence hall is expected to last several months,” Jace Lux, community spokesperson and director of Media Relations at WKU, said. 

This dorm is part of the plans for the university’s new public-private partnership with international real estate company Gilbane. The replacement of Douglas Keen, Hugh Poland, The Pit Stop convenience store and The Den by Denny’s is part of the first phase of WKU’s plan to revamp housing on campus. 

WKU is also finishing the teardown process of Hilltopper Hall after structural deficiencies were found. The main structure of the building is completely torn down, leaving only the foundation and debris behind. 

The university has started work on clearing the debris to complete the demolition by Aug. 14.