City of Lexington: Rupp Arena

In 2014, we were tasked with creating a film for the Rupp Arena renovation. We started throwing out the many things this new arena would do for the city of Lexington, for the University of Kentucky, and for the Bluegrass state as a whole. We rattled off things like job growth, competitive urban development, building a world-class city, etc. Then, we stepped back from the table and asked ourselves a question: For those who don’t live and breathe urban planning, architectural design, and civic initiatives, what will the Rupp renovation project mean?

Suddenly, the narrative in our heads changed. Rupp Arena is Rupp Arena because of the people who have trod its hallowed halls. Those people are the building’s foundation, not concrete and metal. By weaving the fly-through footage provided by the project’s vaunted architectural firms with historic and contemporary footage, we were able to highlight the jaw-dropping design work and the people who have made this building into the institution we all know and love today. Rupp Arena will always be hallowed ground and our goal was to reflect that in this film.

Answer Key:
0:13 – Scott Padgett celebrating the 1996 National Championship
0:14 – A dunk by Dan Issel, NBA Hall of Famer
0:17 – Cawood Ledford also know as the “The Voice of The Wildcats”
0:19 – Henry Miller Jr. has been to collecting UK gear since 1986
0:25 – Margaret Woods has a poodle named Buffy who can dunk
0:28 – Monster Dunk by Marquis Estill
0:32 – Jacob is part of the prestigious Committee of 101 as a UK usher
0:37 – Lebron James attended the Vandy vs UK game in 2010
0:40 – Jay Z rocked Rupp with his presence in 2011
0:46 – Former 1st round pick in the NBA, Kenny “Sky” Walker
0:49 – Jamal Mashburn, AKA Monster Mash has his #24 jersey retired at Rupp Arena
0:56 – The 1982 State Championship game was won at the buzzer when Laurel County’s Paul Andrews hit a desperation 50-foot shot to beat North Hardin.
1:12 – Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith have all been UK coaches
1:13 – Tayshaun Prince sinking a 3 against UNC
1:23 – Madison Central High School, 2013 State Champions
1:52 – Kentucky River Palisades in Madison County
1:53 – Lexington, KY, home for the University of Kentucky
1:54 – Kentucky’s State Capitol building in Frankfort. Created by Architect Frank Mills Andrews

Credits:
Principal Architects: NBBJ / Seattle & LA
Architects: EOP / Lexington
Animation: NBBJ
Production Company: Bullhorn / Lexington, KY
Executive Producers: Brad Flowers & Griffin VanMeter
Producer: Colin Doherty
Directors: Colin Doherty & Blake Judd
Co-Producer: Blake Judd
Line Producer: Erin Sweeney
Creative Director: Adam Kuhn
Editor: Todd Tue
Composer: Joshua Nicholson
Associate Producers: Brume Jessa & Will Jones
Cameras: Richie Wireman, Jacob Ennis, Ramie Hutchison, & Stanley Sievers
Voice Over: Hendrick Floyd
Sound Mastering: Dynamix Studios, Lexington
Color Grading: Forward Post, Nashville

Special thanks to WKYT for the UK Footage




Scope of Work
Video Production