UT Construction Adds Space For Chapel, Health, Science Classrooms, Labs

Soon-to-be completed construction projects at the University of Tampa will improve the spiritual, health and intellectual needs of its student body with a new chapel, health center and science building.

The Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith is a 12,750-square-foot vaulted structure situated north of North B Street across from Brevard Hall. Its east-west design takes advantage of natural light and houses a pipe organ, main hall, meeting and meditation rooms and vestibule that will facilitate the many faiths that will inhabit the building for meetings, seminars, concerts, ceremonies and other spiritual programs by a diverse community of multiple faiths, including Judaism, Christian and Muslim.

The new student health center replaces one that could no longer meet the needs of the university's growing population. It's 10,300 square feet houses a waiting area, eight exam rooms, a triage space, pharmacy, staff offices, holding rooms and counseling spaces. It is located at North Brevard Avenue and North A Street.

A new science annex is located on the north end of campus near the Cass Building and includes approximately 8,000 square feet of space that houses organic chemistry labs and offices on the second floor, and biology labs, offices and a 35-seat general-use classroom on the first floor. The general-use classroom can be converted to a 20-station instructional lab when needed.

Although the health center and science annex are the university's first LEED-certified buildings, there are other ongoing efforts to make the campus environmentally responsible. "All new residence halls have been equipped with low-flow toilets, shower heads and faucets," says Eric Cardenas, UT's director of public information and publications. "New buildings have computer monitored building management systems and timers to avoid energy waste."

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Eric Cardenas, University of Tampa