Board greenlights $6.5M STEM expansion at USF Sarasota-Manatee

On the heels of last fall’s opening of the Student Center and Atala Residence Hall, USF Sarasota-Manatee continues to expand its footprint and on-campus offerings with a new STEM academic facility. In August, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the $6.5 million project that will expand access to high-quality lab instruction in chemistry, biology and physics.

The STEM academic facility will be approximately 7,000 square feet and include labs and prep space. Previously, students traveled to leased space at Mote Marine Laboratory.

“This project represents a major step forward in our commitment to STEM education and student success,” says Interim Regional Chancellor Brett E. Kemker. “It will eliminate the need for off-campus lab leases, reduce travel burdens for students and faculty, and support the growth of programs such as nursing and other STEM disciplines.”

During the 2024-2025 academic year, the Sarasota-Manatee campus taught 39 sections of biology and chemistry at Mote Marine Laboratory to 460 students. Those classes will temporarily be taught at leased space at the Roskamp Institute.

Once the new facility opens, USF will no longer need to lease off-campus space for teaching labs. The target opening date is fall 2027.