The University of South Florida’s forthcoming expansion of its Research Park comes at a particularly opportune time as demand for life sciences properties, including lab space, has skyrocketed nationwide. This project also comes to fruition as nationally leading innovators, entrepreneurs and science and technology firms are being drawn to the Tampa area.
On March 31, USF will cut the ribbon on its latest Research Park Innovation Building, a $42 million project that is Class A quality, built to LEED Certification standards, and commensurate with top-tier American universities and research parks. The 120,000-square-foot, three story building will house labs, office space, an open-air terrace, collaborative areas, and conference space for people to come together and generate new ideas.
Firms that locate in the building will have the opportunity to build their lab and office facilities to suit. The building is adjacent to USF’s Tampa campus, so firms have the added benefit of accessing the deep well of talented students, faculty and staff at one of the country’s top urban research universities.
The USF Research Park is the heart of USF’s innovation enterprise, which is a significant driver of economic development across the Tampa Bay region. It’s an important asset that helps attract and promote the region as a destination for corporate relocations, as well as plays a vital role in developing and maximizing the region’s homegrown talent of innovators and entrepreneurs.
In addition to the Research Park, the USF innovation enterprise is home to the famed art research institute GraphicStudio, the Technology Transfer Office, USF’s Tampa Bay Technology Incubator, Student Innovation Incubator, and Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. An estimated $550 million of the Innovation Enterprise’s annual economic impact occurs in the Tampa Bay region. It also sustains more than 4,000 public and private sectors jobs, most of which are in the knowledge-based sector, including life sciences, IT, and financial services.
The Tampa Bay region has become one of the most desirable business destinations in the country. Highly skilled talent, innovative entrepreneurs and exciting companies of all sizes are flocking to the area. This new addition to the USF Research Park only strengthens our region’s competitiveness to attract more life sciences and biotech companies and fuels the growth of our regional economy.
The new building is located at 3814 Spectrum Blvd. It was designed and constructed by a design-build team from Skanska and Gensler. CBRE is the broker for the project.
For information about the USF Research Park, please contact Allison Madden, MBA at amadden@usf.edu.
For leasing information, please contact the CBRE team: John Heald, Roxanne Kemph, or Kelley Matheson.
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