Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of West Florida Opens New Laboratory Facility

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/14/25

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.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Harvard Announces Replacement Facility for Native American Program

    Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction will begin this spring on a new home for its Native American Program, according to university news. The 6,500-square-foot, all-electric building will stand three stories and serve as the central hub for the Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP).

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.