The superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) will recommend to the Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) that the district move its central office to a well-known Louisville location. The district announced today that Yum! Brands, Inc. has offered to donate its Louisville campus on Gardiner Lane, including the well-known “white house” building, to the school system. The donation remains contingent upon the JCBE’s approval, which is expected to occur at its June 24 meeting.
“This generous donation is a game-changer for JCPS. Our current administrative buildings require significant renovations that are cost-prohibitive,” said Dr. Marty Pollio, JCPS superintendent. “This will allow us to consolidate several District buildings into one, allowing for stronger collaboration and communication.”
The Yum! Brands campus, located at 1441 Gardiner Lane, is 29 acres, including a pond and walking path. The campus has two office buildings—a three-story, 88,000-square-foot colonial revival-style building constructed in 1970 and nicknamed the “white house” due to its resemblance to the U.S. presidential residence, and a five-story, 225,000-square-foot office building constructed in 1986. The two buildings are connected and share conference meeting space and a cafeteria.
“This donation reflects Yum!’s long-standing commitment to Louisville and its belief in the power of education to unlock opportunity,” said David Gibbs, Chief Executive Officer of Yum! Brands. “As we explore options for our Louisville headquarters, this moment created a unique opportunity to collaborate with JCPS. While we haven’t made a final decision on the exact location of our new Louisville offices, we’re evaluating several possibilities across the city and expect to determine the best path forward in the coming months.”
Pending Board approval, JCPS is in the process of finalizing the move and will provide further details as the project progresses. The exact relocation timing is yet to be determined.