The University of Tampa’s campus is preparing for another major transformation as its next academic building moves steadily toward a groundbreaking. With key building plans approved and new construction permit filings underway, the university is laying the foundation for Project Beta, a six-story facility planned along the Hillsborough River. The project will replace a cluster of aging low-rise structures at 505 UT McNeel Ct with a modern, six-story building designed to support a range of science uses.
The new academic building comes at a time when student enrollment at the University of Tampa is at an all-time high, prompting the need for revitalized and expanded academic space. Just last year, the university celebrated the opening of the Grand Center Residence Hall (Project Alpha), a mixed-use complex that introduced new academic areas, student housing, structured parking, and additional campus amenities.
Plans for the new science building, known as Project Beta, call for roughly 200,000 gross SF of space, including research labs, collaborative areas, teaching facilities, faculty offices, and other academic functions. The building is being designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, incorporating strategies to promote waste reduction, improved indoor air quality, and enhanced energy efficiency. Because the campus already has sufficient parking, no additional parking is proposed as part of the project.
According to elevations provided by Omaha-based HDR Architects, the building will feature a blend of the past and present, with red bricks on the west portion of the side in-line with campus material themes, and glass on the east side. The building will rise 120 FT.
According to recently filed permits, Barr & Barr will serve as the project’s general contractor. Multiple permits have been submitted, including a general construction permit covering on-site demolition and new construction, as well as a separate permit for tree removal and pruning. As part of site preparation, several existing structures, including the Morsani Loading Dock, Cass Science Annex Building, McNeal Boathouse, and Communications Annex, will be demolished.
Barr & Barr has extensive experience in STEM-related construction, having led numerous facilities nationwide. The new building’s research labs and specialized facilities fall well within the company’s proven expertise, making them qualified to manage the project.
Construction of the new building is scheduled to take 18 months, according to Barr & Barr. There is no known groundbreaking date as of now. More images of the building can be found here.