University of South Florida Polytechnic, Campus, Building, Project, News, Design

University of South Florida Polytechnic Building

USF Development - design by Santiago Calatrava / Alberto Alfonso

3 May 2011 University of South Florida Polytechnic Appointment Alberto Alfonso, AIA Appointed to Lead New Architecture and Design Department at University of South Florida Polytechnic Alberto Alfonso, AIA May 3, 2011 (Tampa, Florida)...The University of South Florida Polytechnic has named Alberto Alfonso, AIA as executive in residence and interim program development director for architecture and design. Alfonso is a founding principal and president of Alfonso Architects Inc. of Tampa, Florida. In his USF role, Alfonso’s responsibilities will include developing the curriculum for the undergraduate program in architecture and design, conducting national and international searches for new incoming facility positions, planning for a study abroad program in France centered on the work of the late master architect Le Corbusier, and developing national and international relationships with other Polytechnic programs. Alberto Alfonso: picture from architect Alfonso is working in partnership with Santiago Calatrava on designing the new campus for USF Polytechnic in Lakeland, Florida. Tentatively scheduled to begin in 2013, the bachelor’s program in architecture and design is part of USF Polytechnic’s strategic plan to expand its programs as it prepares for the opening of its new campus. Alfonso's appointment runs from April 15, 2011, to June 30, 2015. Cuban born, Alfonso was educated at The University of Florida where he received his M.A. in 1983. With his brother Carlos and partner Angel del Monte, Alfonso Architects, Inc. was founded in 1988. Alfonso’s love of architecture developed at an early age as he was raised in the house of an architect: his father Carlos E. Alfonso, Sr. Carlos Alfonso, Sr. began his career in Havana, Cuba and fled the country with his family in 1960 to begin a successful practice in Tampa, Florida. Alfonso received the prestigious American Institute of Architects State of Florida 2008 Design Honor Award. This award is given an individual architect, who has, by the high quality and originality of one’s design and body of work over a period of 10 or more years, advanced the cause and public value of good architecture in the state of Florida, and, by one’s leadership, has provided an inspiration to colleagues. Alfonso also received the 1987 Eduardo Garcia Award from the Florida Central Chapter of The American Institute of Architects. This award is given to the top Architectural Designer in the six county Central Florida area and is based on a submitted body of work. Recent projects recognized by the State of Florida AIA Design Awards program include the Tampa Covenant Church, Tampa International Airport Airside C, Nielsen Media Research Global Technology Center (a 650,000 s.f. corporate campus headquarters), University of South Florida Center for Advanced Healthcare Frank and Carol Morsani Center, the University of South Florida Medical Office Building, the Mission of St. Mary Chapel, the University of South Florida School of Psychology building, and the Hillsborough County Downtown Partnership Urban K-8 school. Alfonso designed the Chihuly Collection, which opened in July 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The 10,000 sq. ft. installation marks the first time glass artist Dale Chihuly has collaborated with an architect on a permanent exhibition of his work. Alberto Alfonso is also an accomplished painter and will be a featured artist for the second time at the 2011 Tuscan Sun Festival in Cortona, Italy. His paintings can be found in the Nielsen Media Global Technology Center, the Mission of St. Mary Chapel and Carmel Café. In December 2010 Alberto Alfonso’s paintings were featured at The Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL in a collaborative exhibition titled “Painting the Poem, Poeming the Painting." Alberto Alfonso picture from architect University of South Florida Polytechnic Project 2009- Santiago Calatrava Santiago Calatrava to Design Cornerstone for University of South Florida Polytechnic's New Campus World-Renowned Architect Calatrava to Make Mark on Florida with His First U.S. Higher Ed Building The University of South Florida Polytechnic (USFP) has commissioned the acclaimed architectural firm Santiago Calatrava/Festina Lente Services (FL), Inc. to design the first building for the school's new campus in Lakeland, Fla., and update the campus master plan, University of South Florida President Dr. Judy Genshaft announced today. Santiago Calatrava will design the 100,000 net square foot USFP Science & Technology building, which will sit on the northernmost corner of the campus at the intersection of Interstate 4 (I-4) and the Polk Parkway. The Science & Technology building will be the cornerstone of the new campus, and will establish the design scheme for all buildings within phase I of the campus master plan. Groundbreaking is expected late this year, with a scheduled opening in late summer 2012. Calatrava is best known for his celebrated designs of bridges, transportation centers and cultural institutes throughout the world. The USF Polytechnic facility will be his first design in the southeastern U.S. Almost 70 years ago, legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright made his mark on Lakeland with the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel, the first of 12 structures he designed for Florida Southern College and a recent addition to the World Monuments Watch List. With today's announcement, the once-sleepy orange grove town. now at the center of Florida's High Tech Corridor. will again be home to internationally acclaimed architecture. The Calatrava commission follows a Florida Chamber of Commerce statewide voter survey that showed support for directing more of the state's economic resources to fostering talent, rather than relying on tourism and in-migration for economic development. USF Polytechnic, designated Florida's only polytechnic in 2008, focuses on hands-on learning that cultivates skills in the applied arts and sciences, business and education. The USF Polytechnic Vision Since its founding in 1988, USF Polytechnic has shared a campus with Polk State College in Lakeland. When complete, the new campus will offer the space and resources the university needs to expand from its current 4,229 student body to 16,000 students. The prime I-4 location also affords the university visibility along one of the nation's most traveled commercial and tourist routes, the interstate connecting Tampa and Orlando, Fla. In 2006, University of South Florida President Dr. Judy Genshaft brought Dr. Marshall Goodman to Florida as campus executive officer and vice president for USFP and charged him with transforming the landscape. Goodman sees the parallels between Central Florida and Silicon Valley, where he served as provost at San Jose State University. "By developing a world-class educational facility in the midst of a growing technology corridor that connects Florida's largest concentrations of population, we are in fact transforming the future of Lakeland, Polk County and Central Florida," he said. USF Polytechnic has already exceeded expectations in enrollment and is the fastest growing of USF's four regional campuses. USF Polytechnic currently serves 4,229 students, a 25 percent increase over the prior year. "USF Polytechnic is unquestionably the most important economic development project I have worked on in more than 20 years of service in our community, and I tell people all the time that it is the most important project of their lifetimes, as well. USF Polytechnic is an incredible anchor here in Lakeland and Polk County, and will serve as a catalyst to attract more high skill/high wage jobs to our region," said Steve Scruggs, executive director, Lakeland Economic Development Council. Goodman added, "This iconic building will be the symbol of a new Polk County and of a 21st century American university. In polytechnic, we have a unique model of education and with Calatrava, we will have a unique symbol that represents that spirit." Engaging Calatrava Following a series of public meetings and presentations to the USFP Campus Architect Selection Committee, as well as an extensive due diligence process, world-renowned architect Calatrava was selected in November 2008 to design the first building on the new USF Polytechnic campus. With the contractual process now complete, the Calatrava team will begin work on conceptual designs for the Science & Technology building, which is projected to cost $45 million and will use a combination of public and private funding. Calatrava is an award-winning architect, sculptor and structural engineer with offices in his hometown of Valencia, Spain; Zurich, Switzerland; and New York. Since completing his first commission for the design and construction of Zurich's Stadelhofen Railway Station in 1983, Calatrava has received acclaim for his projects, including the Montjuic Communications Tower in Barcelona, Spain; the Turning Torso in Malmo, Sweden; the Athens Olympic Sports Center in Athens, Greece; and the Quadracci Pavilion of the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wis., his first project in the United States. Calatrava was commissioned to design the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub for Lower Manhattan in late 2003 and has numerous projects in progress throughout cities worldwide. Calatrava, a graduate of a polytechnic university in Valencia, said, "I feel very fortunate to have been chosen to design the Science & Technology building for the University of South Florida Polytechnic's new campus. As an architect and an engineer, I greatly value the schools of science and technology. It is my goal to create a facility that both unites and pays homage to these two fields, while providing generations of students with a state-of-the-art education center in which to learn and grow." On working with Calatrava, USF's Dr. Genshaft said, "USF is very excited to work with Santiago Calatrava. With this selection, we have a visionary, modern architect designing a visionary, modern university." Santiago Calatrava/Festina Lente will operate in partnership with Tampa-based architectural firm Alfonso Architects on the project. To watch a video of USF, USFP and Calatrava announcing the design commission, and download photos and press materials on the new USFP campus, visit www.poly.usf.edu. Santiago Calatrava

About USF Polytechnic

The University of South Florida Polytechnic, located in Lakeland, Fla., is the state's first and only polytechnic. As an integral part of the USF system, USF Polytechnic delivers bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as a variety of online, certificate and continuing education programs. The polytechnic model emphasizes applied learning and research and intensive collaboration with economic development partners in the region. Vibrant student life and challenging multi-disciplinary programs in fields such as information technology, engineering, business and education provide a distinctive educational experience at the heart of Florida's High Tech Corridor.

In November 2002, the USF Board of Trustees approved the issuing of a request for proposal for a new campus site, and in December 2002, a Land Acquisition Committee was appointed. This committee included both University and community members representing a broad constituent group. The consulting firm of Reynolds, Smith, and Hill was contracted to work with the committee to perform land evaluation and to prepare the Campus Master Plan.

Five proposals for campus sites were received in January, 2003 and were reviewed and evaluated over the next several months. In July, 2003, the Land Acquisition Committee identified the Williams Company proposal as the one to recommend to the USFL Campus Board. In August, 2003, The USFL Campus Board accepted the Williams Company proposal which included a donation of a 530+ acre site at the intersection of Interstate 4 and the eastern terminus of the Polk Parkway. Subsequently, in November 2003, the USF Board of Trustees approved the development of a new USFL Campus on the Williams' property. A signing ceremony took place on the Lakeland Joint-Use Campus site on November 22, 2004. In addition to the value of the land, the Williams Company will also contribute $600,000 to establish the Williams Endowed Professorship in Information Technology. The gift will qualify for a $420,000 match from the State Trust Fund. The endowment will be paid in 5 annual pledges, the first pledge to be paid when ground is broken for the first building on the new campus site.

The development of the Campus Master Plan was guided by projections of enrollment increases and program development over the 10 year period 2005-2015. The academic programs consider USFL's response to community and economic development needs and establish or enhance programs in a direction of applied research in a polytechnic approach.

University of South Florida Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, Florida, USA

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