Institute of Black Culture and Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

The former Institutes, two Victorian houses built in the 1920s, were purchased by the University in 1954 and designated to the IBC and IHLC in 1971 and 1994, respectively. With this new construction, the square footage for each building was more than doubled. The project involved constructing two LEED v4 Gold buildings totaling 13,230 GSF, each thoughtfully designed to incorporate culturally significant elements. Each building includes offices, event space, study rooms, a warming kitchen, and social spaces. The work required extensive site improvements, underground utilities, tree mitigation, telecommunications, furniture, equipment, and artwork.

The project faced extremely tight site logistics, requiring precise planning and coordination to manage the limited space effectively and safely. Additionally, our team executed an Early Release Package involving the selective demolition, preservation, and salvage of the existing structures, along with site restoration, to pave the way for the new buildings.