The University of Tampa is set to begin construction this spring on a new Science Center aimed at expanding the campus’s teaching and research facilities in the sciences. The five-story, 153,000-square-foot building will be located along the Hillsborough River on UTampa’s downtown campus and is expected to open in Spring 2029.

The new Science Center will consolidate the scattered science facilities on campus and serve as the main academic center for the College of Natural and Health Sciences. The new facility will house the biology, chemistry and biochemistry, forensic science, and marine science departments, among others. It will also serve as the academic center for allied health, computational science, environmental science, and other science-oriented disciplines.

Designed for Innovative Learning and Research

The new facility is designed to meet the needs of the future and to accommodate new and innovative learning concepts. It will feature 25 teaching labs, 23 research labs, microscopy and tissue culture labs, four aquarium research labs, and a bioinformatics classroom. It will also feature 73 faculty offices and outdoor spaces such as a riverside garden, an entrance plaza, and a northeast quadrangle.

University officials say this is the largest academic facility investment in the 94-year history of the university. The project is also partly funded by a generous donation from Dr. Stephen F. and Marsha Dickey, long-time supporters of UTampa. The project is in the hands of HDR Architects and is to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standards.

University officials believe this new Science Center has great potential to provide an academic facility where students can learn in an interdisciplinary manner and acquire the skills necessary to pursue careers in healthcare, biotechnology, sustainability, and other emerging fields. A groundbreaking ceremony is to be held in the spring semester.

UTampa’s investment in a modern Science Center reflects a growing trend among U.S. liberal arts colleges to centralize science facilities and foster interdisciplinary research. Similar initiatives are underway at institutions like Colby College, which last December confirmed plans for a 200,000-square-foot science complex designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, aimed at integrating multiple scientific disciplines under one roof and supporting applied research in areas such as biomedical and environmental engineering.

University of Tampa Science Center: Project Factsheet

Location: Hillsborough River, Downtown Tampa Campus

Size: 153,000 square feet, five stories

Timeline:

Groundbreaking: Spring 2025

Construction Start: Spring 2025

Opening: Spring 2029

Purpose: Central academic hub for the College of Natural and Health Sciences, consolidating science teaching and research spaces across campus

Academic Programs:

Biology

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Forensic Science

Marine Science

Allied Health

Computational Science

Environmental Science

Key Features:

25 teaching laboratories

23 research laboratories

4 aquarium research labs

3 microscopy rooms

2 tissue culture labs

Bioinformatics/computational sciences classroom

Advanced instrumentation laboratory

73 faculty offices

35-seat convertible classroom

Outdoor Spaces:

Riverside Garden (West Riverwalk)

Entrance Plaza (shared with Grand Center and Macdonald-Kelce Library)

Northeast Quadrangle (green space)

Design:

West side: Red brick complementing Plant Hall

East side: Glass and contemporary design with river/downtown views

LEED certification candidate

Architect: HDR Architects

Contractor: Barr and Barr

Major Donor: Dr. Stephen F. and Marsha Dickey Family

Significance: Largest academic facility investment in University’s 94-year history