University of West Florida Opens New Laboratory Facility
The University of West Florida recently announced that renovation work is complete on a new lab building for its campus in Pensacola, Fla., according to university news. Building 80 will serve as the home to the university’s civil engineering program and the Tyler Chase Norwood Construction Management Program. It features three new wet and dry labs for civil engineering and construction management students to become familiar with construction materials.
Amenities include the trade demonstration area, also called the construction yard, for project-based learning. It provides space for practical demonstrations and applications of masonry, carpentry, and welding. The soils lab was designed for research and experiments regarding soil and concrete mechanics.
“The upgraded facility reflects the University’s commitment to academic innovation and preparing graduates to meet regional and national workforce needs in design, construction and sustainability,” said Dr. Mohamed Khabou, dean of the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. “Both the civil engineering and the construction management programs will produce highly qualified graduates to fill high paying jobs in the local economy.”
The renovation cost a total of $1.5 million, and funding came largely from a “handful of generous major donors.” The building was named after Tyler Chase Norwood, a 2015 graduate of UWF. Complementing the new facility, the Tyler Chase Norwood Construction Management Scholarship Endowment received a gift of $250,000 to expand educational opportunities for incoming students, the news release reports.
The building will open its doors to students for the fall 2025 semester.
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Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].