LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Construction on a new residence hall for University of Louisville students is officially underway. The university held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday for Denny Crum Hall.

The facility, which is named for the Cardinals' former Hall of Fame men's basketball coach, will be located across Floyd Street from the Planet Fitness Kueber Center. It's expected to be complete for occupancy by the fall 2022 semester and will house several Cardinal student-athletes, as well as other UofL students.

Crum, who celebrated his 84th birthday on Tuesday, participated in the ceremony.

“This means a lot to me,” said the Cardinal's winningest basketball coach Crum. “I feel really good about this project. It will be a great addition to the university. Just driving up today, it’s astounding how much this campus has grown. I love this university and have put my heart and soul into it.”

From 1971-2001, Crum served as UofL's men's basketball coach before retiring after the 2000-01 season. He took Louisville to the 1980 and the 1986 NCAA Championships, making him one of only 14 coaches in NCAA history to win two or more titles. The Cards reached the NCAA Final Four six times under his leadership, including four times in the 80s. 

On May 9, 1994, Crum was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Crum continued to work as a special assistant to the UofL president for several years after his retirement. As well, the KFC Yum! Center court has been named in his honor. Since 2001, The Denny Crum Scholarship Foundation and the Denny Crum Scholarship Fund at the university have awarded over $1 million to over 425 students since 2001.

The university announced the $23.5 million, 128-bed residence hall on Oct. 28 as a partnership among UofL Athletics, UofL Campus Housing, and a third-party developer consisting of Buffalo Construction, Inc. and Investment Property Advisors. L&N Federal Credit Union has also provided a $2.25 million gift to the Cardinal Athletic Fund to promote the legacy of UofL Athletics through naming the facility in Crum's honor.

Men's and women's basketball and women's lacrosse student-athletes, who both train in the adjoining facility, will live in the residence hall. UofL Athletics guarantees occupancy for 63 of the 128 beds to remain within the NCAA requirement of no more than 50% of the beds being occupied by student-athletes.

The facility will feature an enclosed crosswalk spanning Floyd Street, linking the residence hall and the Planet Fitness Kueber Center.