On November 16th and 17th, 2019, the University of Florida students and community alike celebrated the opening of the University of Florida’s Institute of Black Culture and Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures with well-attended ribbon cutting ceremonies. Foresight Construction Group had the privilege of serving as the construction manager on the project.
The former Institutes, two (2) Victorian houses built in the 1920s, were purchased by the University in 1954 and delegated to the IBC and IHLC in 1971 and 1994, respectively. Square footage for each building was more than doubled with this new construction. The project consisted of the new construction of two separate buildings totaling 13,230 GSF and designed to achieve LEED v.4 Gold. The design draws various moments of cultural significance in each building. The buildings each include offices, event space, study rooms, a warming kitchen, and social spaces. The project required site improvements, underground utilities, tree mitigation, telecommunications, furniture, equipment, and artwork. Our team completed an Early Release Package involving the selective demolition/preservation/salvage of the existing structures and restoration of the site to make way for the new buildings.
For more information, visit the University of Florida news.
Pictured above from left to right: Will Atkins (Associate Dean of Students and Senior Director, Multicultural and Diversity Affairs at the University of Florida), Kent Fuchs (President of The University of Florida), and Juan Segarra (President/CEO and Owner of Foresight).
Pictured above from left to right: Daniel Green (Assistant Project Manager), Austin Harrell (Project Engineer), Tony Williams (Project Manager), Eric Harrell (Superintendent), Juan Segarra (President/CEO and Owner of Foresight), Matt Pendleton (Senior Director of the Department of Information Technology, Division of Student Affairs at the University of Florida), Scott Gattshall (Gainesville Operations Manager), and Moses Benton (Architect at DLR Group).
