TAMPA — The University of Tampa today celebrates both the construction of its largest building – a combination residence hall, parking deck, classroom and office building — and the continued transformation of UT’s campus.
The building will blend with the architecture of UT’s campus, with red brick, precast concrete, metal and glass.
The 10-story building is set to have three distinct components:
1. a residence hall that will house more than 600 students, primarily incoming students;
2. academic and student support, including approximately 37 faculty offices, a faculty lounge, five classrooms, study rooms, a study lounge for veterans and functional spaces for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, UT’s Institute for Sales Excellence and the International Programs Office, and;
3. parking for approximately 440 vehicles.
Estimated to be more than 460,000 square feet, the building is set to be the largest building on campus, estimated to be twice the size of the Vaughn Center. The building will be located just north of the Sykes College of Business.
The building will also house a Starbucks café, much like the one located in the Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building. That Starbucks is a favorite meeting and studying place for UT students.
“This building will do for the northeast section of campus what the Sykes Plaza and Susan and John Sykes Ars Sonora did for the center of campus; there will be various comfortable places for the UT community to gather, study and relax,” said UT President Ron Vaughn.
The building will blend with the architecture of UT’s campus, with red brick, precast concrete, metal and glass. It will offer panoramic views of campus and downtown Tampa, and include typical Florida landscaping.
Paid for through a combination of individual gifts and capital reserve funds, the Multipurpose Building was designed by Eric Kreher of KWJ Architects and Kris Young and Grayson Silver of Baker Barrios, and the building will be constructed by BECK.
In alignment with UT’s commitment to create a responsible, efficient, healthy and sustainable campus, the building is a candidate for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Completion of the Multipurpose Building is expected for Fall 2024.
The University of Tampa is a private, comprehensive university located on 110 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. Known for academic excellence, personal attention and real-world experience in its undergraduate and graduate programs, the University serves 10,600 students from 50 states and most of the world’s countries.