In Lakeland, Fla., located between Orlando and Tampa, Florida Polytechnic University unveiled its new Applied Research Center (ARC). Designed by HOK and built by Skanska, the 90,000-sf academic building houses research and teaching laboratories, student design spaces, conference rooms, and faculty offices—furthering the school’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) mission.
The university’s second academic building in Lakeland, the two-story ARC building sits adjacent to the Innovation, Science, and Technology (IST) Building, which was designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, built by Skanska, and completed in 2014.
For its foundation, the project site features ground improvement rock columns with vibro compaction. The structure features mostly 5x5-foot spread footings, except beneath a large 42-foot cantilever, where 15x15-foot footings were required.
The structure also employs steel brace frames. Skanska, which received a $45 million construction contract, found that brace-framing the building, rather than form-pouring multiple stories of shear walls, helped the company deliver the project on budget and on schedule. To build the steel structure, Skanska used a 200-ton crawler crane and two assist cranes.
Throughout the building, chilled beams help reduce the need for large ductwork. With power and water supplied by the campus central utility plant, ARC’s roof is free of mechanical equipment.
The ARC project has attained LEED Silver certification. Its sustainable features include a highly reflective curtain wall and an insulated glazing system. The building’s central atrium connects to each bar of the building and serves as a meeting and collaboration space for students.
On the Building Team:
Owner: Florida Polytechnic University
Design architect: HOK
MEP engineer: AEI (Affiliated Engineers, Inc.)
Structural engineer: Walter P Moore
General contractor/construction manager: Skanska USA
Related Stories
Education Facilities | Nov 30, 2022
10 ways to achieve therapeutic learning environments
Today’s school should be much more than a place to learn—it should be a nurturing setting that celebrates achievements and responds to the challenges of many different users.
University Buildings | Nov 13, 2022
University of Washington opens mass timber business school building
Founders Hall at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, the first mass timber building at Seattle campus of Univ. of Washington, was recently completed. The 84,800-sf building creates a new hub for community, entrepreneurship, and innovation, according the project’s design architect LMN Architects.
University Buildings | Nov 3, 2022
New College of Medicine debuts on University of Houston’s campus
It's part of a planned medical district.
University Buildings | Nov 2, 2022
New Univ. of Calif. Riverside business school building will support hybrid learning
A design-build partnership of Moore Ruble Yudell and McCarthy Building Companies will collaborate on a new business school building at the University of California at Riverside.
School Construction | Oct 31, 2022
Claremont McKenna College science center will foster integrated disciplinary research
The design of the Robert Day Sciences Center at Claremont McKenna College will support “a powerful, multi-disciplinary, computational approach to the grand socio-scientific challenges and opportunities of our time—gene, brain, and climate,” says Hiram E. Chodosh, college president.
University Buildings | Oct 27, 2022
The Collaboratory Building will expand the University of Florida’s School of Design, Construction, and Planning
Design firm Brooks + Scarpa recently broke ground on a new addition to the University of Florida’s School of Design, Construction, and Planning (DCP).
Higher Education | Oct 24, 2022
Wellesley College science complex modernizes facility while preserving architectural heritage
A recently completed expansion and renovation of Wellesley College’s science complex yielded a modernized structure for 21st century STEM education while preserving important historical features.
BAS and Security | Oct 19, 2022
The biggest cybersecurity threats in commercial real estate, and how to mitigate them
Coleman Wolf, Senior Security Systems Consultant with global engineering firm ESD, outlines the top-three cybersecurity threats to commercial and institutional building owners and property managers, and offers advice on how to deter and defend against hackers.
University Buildings | Oct 18, 2022
A carbon-neutral-ready university campus opens in Hong Kong
In early September, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) officially opened its new, KPF-designed campus in Nansha, Guangzhou (GZ).
University Buildings | Oct 7, 2022
Auburn’s new culinary center provides real-world education
The six-story building integrates academic and revenue-generating elements.
