Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Sea Turtle Hospital at University of Florida Under Construction

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/17/24

The University of Florida’s Whitney Research Laboratory for Marine Bioscience recently began construction on a new Sea Turtle Hospital for its campus in St. Augustine, Fla., according to a news release. The new facility will include multiple research labs, education areas, and a sea turtle research center and hospital. The university is partnering with DPR Construction on the $41.2-million complex.

“The addition of the Marine Research Institute Building and the Sea Turtle Research Center and Hospital represents a significant milestone for the University of Florida and our efforts in marine science education and conservation,” said Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital Program Manager Catherine Eastman. “This facility will not only advance our research capabilities but also inspire the next generation of scientists and conservationists.”

The complex will feature a marine research and conservation discovery entryway, a scientific education path, and an outdoor classroom to facilitate learning for students and visitors. Construction is aiming for a LEED Gold certification. A 38,000-square-foot, two-story post tension cast-in-place structure is an innovation of note, featuring advanced self-performing concrete techniques, the news release reports.

“This new facility was ideated in collaboration with Whitney scientists to ensure that their workflow is prioritized in the space we build,” said DPR Project Executive Michael Boykin. “It's an exciting project that not only takes sustainability into consideration during the building process, but will contribute so much to the preservation of our iconic wildlife in Florida.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • ed tech conference calendar

    Upcoming Awards, Events & Webinars

  • Longwood University Hits Construction Milestone on New Music Education Facility

    Longwood University in Farmville, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of its new music education and performance facility, according to a news release. The university partnered with development and construction firm Skanska on the 63,800-square-foot facility, which began construction in August 2025 and has an estimated completion date of fall 2028.