91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly breaks ground on state-of-the-art research building

Sep 11, 2019
Erica Molina Johnson
91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly breaks ground on state-of-the-art research building
91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­leadership and elected officials celebrated the groundbreaking of the Applied Research Center on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019. The facility will be the second academic building on the University campus in Lakeland, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­.

LAKELAND, Fla. – 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­leaders and community and state officials gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Applied Research Center, a new iconic building on campus that will serve as a research hub for students, faculty, and high-tech industry in the region.

The Applied Research Center (ARC) will be an over 85,000-square-foot facility that will house research and teaching laboratories, as well as student design spaces, conference rooms, and faculty offices. The ARC will be 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly’s second academic building and will become a magnet for leading faculty and cutting-edge research.

β€œThe ARC will promote research growth and excellence for the University’s applied science and engineering programs,” said Dr. Randy K. Avent, president of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly. β€œIt was designed with the goal of creating a dynamic, functional, and flexible space that will assist our faculty and students with the commercialization of innovation and applied research.”

The two-story building will be located on the northwest side of campus adjacent to the Innovation, Science, and Technology (IST) Building and will be visible from I-4. The builder of the ARC is Skanska USA, which also developed the IST Building, and the architect design firm is HOK. Construction is expected to take two years.

β€œThe vision of this university is to prepare students to be able to go forward to have an applied job in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and to adjust and meet the needs of our nation in a quick and nimble way is very exciting,” said state Sen. Kelli Stargel, who spoke during the ceremony. β€œI look forward to seeing the fruition of this building and doing everything I can to make sure that we continue with the vision of what 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly is going to be for Polk County and for the state of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­.”

State Rep. Colleen Burton also was present at the event and said the transformation of the Polk County’s educational landscape with the addition of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly has been immense.

β€œ91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly has exceeded our expectations,” she said. β€œThis groundbreaking of the Applied Research Center is a personal moment of great privilege. I have been able, during my brief tenure so far in the House, to try to make sure this building came to fruition and came to reality. It will be a great economic development boom for our community.”

Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

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