The University of Tampa is getting ready for another major upgrade. New permits and approvals are in place for a six-story science building that will sit along the Hillsborough River.
It is called Project Beta, and it will replace a group of older buildings at 505 UT McNeel Ct.
UTampa has not said when work will start, but once it does, the contractor expects the project to take about 18 months.
Several buildings on the site will come down first, including the Cass Science Annex and the McNeal Boathouse.
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A big step for UTampa’s science programs
The new building will be about 200,000 square feet. It will include research labs, teaching spaces and areas where students and faculty can work together.
HDR Architects is designing it to meet LEED Silver, which means the building should use less energy and support better air quality.
The building’s look mixes old and new. The west side will have red brick to match the rest of the campus. The east side will have more glass and face the river. It will stand 120 feet tall.
UTampa does not plan to add new parking since the campus already has enough.
Construction plans are moving forward
Barr and Barr will build the project. Recent filings show a general construction permit that covers demolition and new construction. There is also a permit for tree work on the site.
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This project comes right after UTampa opened the Grand Center Residence Hall. That building added housing, classrooms and new space for students at a time when enrollment is higher than ever.
Why it matters
UTampa continues to grow, and it needs more space for science and research programs.
This new building provides students with better labs and more space to learn. It also continues the steady build-out of UTampa’s riverfront campus, which has helped shape the look and feel of downtown Tampa.
