The new Florida Polytechnic University—whose 170-acre campus and iconic Main Building (pictured) were designed by architect Santiago Calatrava—will formally mark its opening on August 16 with a ceremony at the campus in Lakeland, Fla.
The university is Florida’s 12th and newest member of the State University System and will welcome its first students later in August.
The Main Building, also known as the Innovation, Science, and Technology Building, was finished on schedule and within the $60 million budget. Located on the north side of the campus' central lake, the exterior of the 200,000-sf building is made up of aluminum, aluminum cladding, concrete, and glass.
The interior is made of concrete flooring and columns, plaster, steel, and glass. It will function as the primary campus facility, housing classrooms, laboratories, offices, meeting spaces, and an amphitheater for larger events. On the second floor, offices and meeting rooms are arranged around the Commons, a large meeting space under a vaulted skylight.
The building has a pergola of lightweight aluminum trellis wrapping its exterior. The pergola not only adds character, but reduces the solar load on the building by 30%. It also has an operable roof, made of two sets of 46 aluminum louvers, which use the power of hydraulic pistons to move in relationship to the sun, and which can be fitted with solar panels. The operable roof helps to shade the skylight of the Commons from direct sunlight and to maximize daylight to the space.
Visible from the adjacent Interstate 4, the futuristic building has become a well-known feature in the local area and has already appeared in an ad campaign for a major automobile manufacturer, which used it as a backdrop for its commercial.
When designing the campus’ master plan, Calatrava made the most of the unique topography of the central Florida area. The campus lake offers dramatic views and serves as the primary storm water retention facility and as a storage vessel for site irrigation. The campus is connected by a series of pedestrian causeways and walkways, as well as a road circling the lake buffered by trees and greenery.
"I am honored to have been involved in this project dedicated to the study of science, technology, engineering and math—a set of subjects so crucial to our society and our economy," said Calatrava. "I am proud of what we have all achieved and I hope the young people that study here will be inspired to be creative and to meet their potential.”
Calatrava added: “Working with the visionary university leadership and amongst the enthusiastic Lakeland community has been a privilege and I wish everyone associated with this project the best of luck in coming years.”
Randy K. Avent, President of Florida Polytechnic University, said, “We’re extremely excited to be launching our new university this month. Santiago Calatrava has produced an inspiring learning facility, and we can’t wait to welcome our inaugural class for this first academic year. This is an institution and campus that all of us in Lakeland and across the state of Florida can be proud of.”
Related Stories
| Feb 3, 2013
Electronic surveying improves accuracy on BIM-driven hospital project
A mechanical contractor combines an electronic surveying tool with a BIM model to make significant productivity gains in a large-scale hospital project.
| Jan 30, 2013
Design Firm Little Expands Durham Interiors Studio
Both Benner and Byers have expertise in market sectors such as corporate, retail, hospitality, healthcare, research /technology, critical facilities, civic and education.
| Jan 22, 2013
Midwestern Construction Company Acquires Local Architecture Firm
St. Charles, Ill.-based design/build and construction firm acquires architecture firm.
| Jan 17, 2013
Thornton Tomasetti Founding Principal Thornton receives ASCE Lifetime Achievement Award
The OPAL Lifetime Achievement Award is given to civil engineers who “represent a model of achievement to which future generations of engineers aspire to match or exceed.”
| Jan 16, 2013
2013 40 Under 40 application process now open
Building Design+Construction's 40 Under 40 is open to AEC professionals from around the globe.
| Jan 16, 2013
SOM’s innovative Zhengzhou Greenland Plaza opens
The 2.59-million-square-feet building houses a mixed-use program of offices on its lower floors and a 416-room hotel.
| Jan 15, 2013
Morris Architects joins Huitt-Zollars
Morris, which will continue to provide services under its current name and leadership, is entering its 75th year of continuous practice as an architectural, interior design, landscape architecture, and planning firm.