University of Tampa News and Development

[TampaMike]

UT building new health center, labs, classroom
By GEORGE WILKENS | The Tampa Tribune
Published: February 11, 2010


TAMPA - Construction of a new University of Tampa Student Health Center and an academic building will begin next month, with both two-story projects scheduled for completion in time for the fall semester.

The health center will replace one housed in a remodeled office acquired by the university in 1997, when enrollment was 2,800, said university spokesman Eric Cardenas. Today, with 6,300 students, 1,000 patients visit the health center monthly during the academic year, he said.

At 10,300 square feet, the new medical facility will dwarf the existing one of 1,800 square feet. It will have eight examination rooms, a triage area, a pharmacy, a waiting area, holding rooms, staff offices and space for counseling individuals and groups.

The project is funded partly by a gift from Stephen and Marsha Dickey, Cardenas said. A UT board member, Stephen Dickey is CEO/president of eight Doctor's Walk-In Clinic locations in the Tampa area.

The existing center, at 111 N. Brevard Ave., will be demolished to make room for its replacement. The health center's staff has moved into a modular facility on the university's newly acquired property on Kennedy Boulevard and will work from there until the new facility opens in September.

"The new facility will allow our staff to provide health services more efficiently and effectively and will enhance students' overall experience at UT," said Bob Ruday, dean of students. "We'll be able to see more patients, and they'll have more privacy."

The other project, an 8,000-square-foot building on a vacant site near the Cass Building, is the initial phase of a broader plan to expand academic facilities, according to university President Ronald L. Vaughn.

"This new facility will enhance the University of Tampa's strong presence in biology and chemistry and certain pre-professional programs, and will serve as the foundation for future possible construction," Vaughn said in a prepared statement announcing the projects.

The academic building, scheduled to open in August, will provide state-of-the-art chemistry and biology laboratories, faculty offices and a 35-seat classroom. The classroom is designed for future conversion to a 20-station instructional lab.

University Provost Janet McNew said this addition to the Cass science complex will provide quality laboratory classroom and research space, "needed for our fast-growing programs in the College of Natural and Health Sciences."

Both buildings will feature a design, appearance and style consistent with others on campus. The university will pursue certification for both through the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

Project costs have not been released.

http://centraltampa2.tbo.com/content...lassroom/news/

[Jasonhouse]

With how limited land is in and around the UT campus, I'm surprised that this project isn't being done as one 4 story building, or even a 5-6 story building with some space for other future needs. Or even several floors of dorm rooms (which UT is in perpetual need of)... Leave the other plot for future needs. The cost difference between two 2 story buildings or one 4 story building would surely be within their budget range.

[JBrisco]

They're probably gonna knock down the old dorms to build bigger ones, and densify the campus more... I mean did you see where the chapel is?

[Casey]

UT starts redevelopment of Valencia Garden property
Date: Monday, December 27, 2010

For the first time since World War II, Tampa mayoral candidates will campaign without hand shaking and backslapping inside the Valencia Garden restaurant on Kennedy Boulevard.

The city’s iconic lunch spot, a long-time favorite for business and political leaders to meet, greet and eat, is being torn down Monday, 19 months after its front doors were padlocked. By Tuesday afternoon the building should be reduced to ruble and memory.

The University of Tampa is clearing two and a half acres bordered by Kennedy, Brevard Avenue, North A Street and North Boulevard for an undetermined future use. The restaurant’s owners, Tampa’s Agliano family, sold the property in multiple transactions with UT and the Bailey Family Foundation for about $10.8 million, government records show.

Rick Ogorek, vice president for administration and finance at UT, said the decision to demolish the building was not taken lightly.

“Whatever is built on this block will certainly be an improvement to the neighborhood and to the Kennedy Boulevard corridor,” Ogorek said in a statement. “And it will be of a size, scale and design to benefit future UT students and the city of Tampa. We’re excited for what is to come.”

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/...-valencia.html

[jonknee]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/educati...ilding/1173147

UT expansion includes addition, new building

TAMPA — Two construction projects will add 57,000 square feet to the Bob Martinez Sports Center at the University of Tampa, school officials said Wednesday.

The two-phase project, funded mostly by gifts, includes adding a second story to the existing center that faces N Boulevard, and later constructing a two-story building on the southwest corner of the center.

Crossroads Construction of Lakeland will build the first phase, which includes 19 offices, eight classrooms and six labs. The addition is expected to completed by early 2012.

The second phase is expected to house the ROTC program as well as an athletics training facilities. A contractor has not been determined, but officials said it will be done by fall 2012.

Current programs at the center will not be disrupted.

[jonknee]

I saw some work here the other day, looks like a big project.

UT to Break Ground on New Residence Hall

In the midst of continued record-breaking enrollments, The University of Tampa has announced it will break ground immediately on its largest residence hall on a site that borders Kennedy Boulevard. The proposed residence hall will rise 11 stories and will include 523 beds for undergraduates. It is set to be completed in August 2013.

The as-yet-unnamed residence hall — temporarily designated as Residence Hall VII — will be located on the eastern side of the block bound by Kennedy Boulevard to the south, North A Street to the north, North Boulevard to the west and North Brevard Avenue to the east. Its main entrance will face North Brevard Avenue. Construction will begin immediately.

In addition to two residential suites, the 11th floor will include two large community rooms with sweeping views of Tampa Bay, primarily for student use.

The new, 193,000 square-foot hall will reflect the latest in university campus amenities. Each room will be suite-style with a common living room, four single bedrooms and two full bathrooms. All rooms will be cable and network ready. The residence hall also has several lounges and student gathering spaces, as well as a laundry room and common kitchen.

The proposed design indicates the building will blend with the architecture of the campus, with red brick, stucco and glass. An adjacent park and courtyard will complement the facility.

"Our strong demand for on-campus housing, coupled with our increasing enrollment, has led us to be proactive in providing additional, high quality on-campus housing for students,” said Ronald L. Vaughn, president of UT. “More and more students want to attend UT and live on our dynamic downtown campus. This new construction represents our continued effort to provide an exemplary academic and co-curricular experience for them.”

Construction of the residence hall, including furnishings, is estimated at $38 million.

About 65 percent of full-time UT students live in campus housing. For the past several years, UT students have been housed in area overflow hotels.

Residence Hall VII will represent the 25th new or substantially redesigned facility on UT’s campus in the past 15 years, and the seventh new residence hall in the same period. The campus’ physical growth comes as a result of significant enrollment expansion that has quadrupled over the last 17 years to 6,738 total students in 2011-12. The University has invested more than $280 million in new construction since 1997.

The parcel where Residence Hall VII will be built was purchased in 2009. For many years it was the site of the Valencia Garden restaurant.

The building roof includes a solar array that will supply hot water to the building. In alignment with UT’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the building will be designed and constructed to be a candidate for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification of the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Beck Group construction firm has been named to build the residence hall.

[koopalicious]

Another 200+ feet of fencing along Kennedy. Love it.

UT is such a joke. They've wasted millions of dollars acquiring property because of their haphazard development style, and contrary to the quote in post #4, have managed to trash a valuable zone to the west of downtown.

[Del Mayberry]

Also something is u/c on the side of Kennedy near the Falk Theatre. Part of the university? I didn't think there was any space left in there but apparently there is. Anybody know what this is?

[smiley]

They haven't trashed anything. That's what universities often look like. At least it is a nice fence.

[Del Mayberry]

If all these dorms were in one building, we would have a 40 story tower at least.

[G Tom]

You guys are silly. Oh no! More attractive fencing along crappy Kennedy? How dare they! And they are going to tear down an eyesore tire shop and build more? Uh oh.

If only UT wasn't there to provide a buffer between the housing projects and the south of Kennedy crowd....that would be urban.

Not sure what is haphazard about UT's development style...they have had a master plan for years, which projects their growth years into the future. Now USF...that is a joke of a university.

The building across the street is not UT... It's for the RNC. And, gasp, it will have no practical use after the RNC!

[Jasonhouse]

Orient the tower E-W, build some storefronts on Kennedy in front of the fence, and lease to businesses of the school's choosing.

[TampaGuy]

I like it, I think the building looks good, but ground retail or even a cafeteria with outdoor seating would make it better.

[koopalicious]

Originally Posted by G Tom

Not sure what is haphazard about UT's development style...they have had a master plan for years, which projects their growth years into the future.

Explain to me why you would place this building in a north-south orientation in the middle of the block? By doing so, you've nuked the opportunity of ever having any future development on this site... and screwed everyone who lives, works, and visits the city.

Jason's suggestion is exactly what should have been done.

[smiley]

I cant think of many university dorms that have street retail for the public. The rendering does not show where on the lot the building is sitting.

[smiley]

Looking at this map https://www.ut.edu/maps/utmap.html it would appear they are putting the building in the middle of the lot - probably to save the west half of the lot for something later. Not to mention this orientation gives better views.

[jonknee]

Originally Posted by smiley

I cant think of many university dorms that have street retail for the public. The rendering does not show where on the lot the building is sitting.

Sad but true. They do it in the name of security (they can secure the whole building as part of the campus) which is big these days for universities. And I'm not sure what retail they would want there. Food would compete with the school, bars would be out because of the school. Clothing might do well with the built in audience there, but that's tough to land.

[jonknee]

Also should be noted that the project to add another level to the Martinez Sports Center has wrapped up. Looks decent for what it was (building on building).

[koopalicious]

Originally Posted by smiley

Looking at this map https://www.ut.edu/maps/utmap.html it would appear they are putting the building in the middle of the lot - probably to save the west half of the lot for something later. Not to mention this orientation gives better views.

UT does not own the property on the corner of Kennedy and N Boulevard, so they will likely have to acquire that to build anything else. As I said earlier, they've wasted countless dollars and time (and our ability to have any sort of urban environment west of the river) in doing so, rather than simply planning appropriately.

[LuvHighrisers]

On the other hand, they have increased the population of the downtown area by adding (and continuing) to increase their resident enrollment. That is definately a plus for a downtown that has potential, but isn't quite there yet.