The University of West Florida Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering Laboratory Annex broke ground today. The Lab Sciences Annex for the University of West Florida is a 53,000 SF 3-story structure designed to provide a state of the art teaching and research facility for their students and faculty. A total of 12 teaching labs are provided, consisting of 8 biology labs and 4 chemistry labs. Shell space for the future build-out of 6 research labs is also provided, along with faculty offices, conference / classrooms and multiple student breakout / common use areas. The new Annex will be an addition to their existing 40 year-old wet lab building, which will be converted into classrooms, offices, and additional research labs.
The Annex will establish an important new identity for the Biology and Chemistry departments. With a prominent entry on the central campus green, it will help create a vibrant complex of buildings that frame an active and highly developed courtyard. Caldwell Associates partnered with world class lab designers Perkins + Will to bring the most innovative thinking in wet lab design to Northwest Florida – creating a facility that not only provides students and faculty with the practical tools for learning, but also an environment that fosters student interaction, education, and development.