FSU Breaks Ground For New Research Facility
November 3, 2000
Contact:
Dr. Raymond Bye, (850) 644-3347
FSU Vice President for Research
Barbara Ash, (850) 644-3347
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida State University Research Foundation has taken the first step in a new building initiative in Innovation Park with the approval of a new $11-million, 80,000-square-foot building. University officials say the new building, will allow FSU to advance several of its major research projects.
The building, the first approved in Innovation Park since 1996, will be home to the newly created Center for Advanced Power Systems, whose mission is to work with the U.S. Navy on the research and development of the all-electric ship. The Office of Naval Research awarded FSU $10.9 million in July to establish CAPS. Scientists, engineers, and students from FSU, the FAMU/FSU College of Engineering, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, and industrial partners will be involved in the CAPS project.
ONR director, Rear Adm. Jay Cohen, FSU President Talbot D'Alemberte and Leon County Commissioner Jane Sauls, representing the Leon County Research and Development Authority, will mark the event with a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, at 3:30 p.m. at the site of the new building. The Innovation Park site is across the street from the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at the corner of Levy Street and East Paul Dirac Drive.
"This is a wonderful example of how a university can successfully collaborate with private enterprise and local government-Innovation Park, the Economic Development Council and Leon County in this case-and have an important economic impact on a community," D'Alemberte said.
Bruce Host, chair of the Leon County Research and Development Authority at Innovation Park, said, "We are delighted to continue our strong relationship with FSU and pleased that this project will help us to realize our goals of economic development and bring new jobs to the community."
Support by the FSU Research Foundation for the new construction program at Innovation Park will bring new jobs to Tallahassee, said Raymond Bye, FSU vice president for research and president of the foundation.
"The new FSU facilities will be home to teams of researchers involved in major, high-visibility research programs. This is a real home run for the entire community," said Bye, adding that the new building will house 200 to 300 researchers.
Established in 1980 as a research and development center, the 208-acre Innovation Park, currently contains 11 buildings and 1,600 employees. Solicitation of bids will begin shortly, and construction is expected to begin in spring or summer 2001 and be completed within one year.
The Florida State University Research Foundation is charged with promoting and encouraging research at FSU. It serves as the fiscal agent for privately funded contracts and grants, and receives and manages royalties from the commercialization of FSU’s intellectual property. Current value of its endowment exceeds $56 million.
The Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County is the marketing agent for Innovation Park. A subsidiary of the Tallahassee Area Chamber of Commerce, the EDC is public/private partnership charged with creating high-wage jobs for Tallahassee area residents. Before signing on with Innovation Park, the EDC successfully marketed city-owned Commonwealth Centre, selling all available sites in the business park (108 acres) in five years.
