The new Florida Polytechnic University - whose 170 acre campus and iconic central building were designed by architect Santiago Calatrava - will formally mark its opening on August 16 with a ceremony at the campus in Lakeland, Florida. The university is Florida’s 12th and newest member of the State University System and will welcome its first students later this month.

The main building – the Innovation, Science, and Technology Building - has been finished on schedule and under the $60 million budget. Located on the north side of the central lake it is designed around, the exterior of the 200,000 sq. ft. building is made up of aluminum, aluminum cladding, concrete and glass. The interior is made of concrete flooring and columns, plaster, steel and glass. It will function as the primary campus facility - housing classrooms, laboratories, offices, meeting spaces and even an amphitheater for larger events. On the second floor, offices and meeting rooms are arranged around the “Commons” – a large meeting space under the vaulted skylight.

The building has a pergola of lightweight aluminum trellis wrapping its exterior. The pergola not only adds character, but reduces the solar load on the building by 30%. It also has an operable roof, made of two sets of 46 aluminum louvers, which use the power of hydraulic pistons to move in relationship to the sun, and which can be fitted with solar panels. The operable roof helps to shade the skylight of the Commons from direct sunlight and to maximize daylight to the space.

Visible from the adjacent Interstate 4, the futuristic building has become a well-known feature in the local area and has already appeared in an ad campaign for a major automobile manufacturer, who used it as a backdrop for its commercial.

When designing the campus’ master plan, Calatrava made the most of the unique topography of the central Florida area. The campus lake offers dramatic views and serves as the primary storm water retention facility and as a storage vessel for site irrigation. The campus is connected by a series of pedestrian causeways and walkways, as well as a road circling the lake buffered by trees and greenery.

Santiago Calatrava said, “I am honored to have been involved in this project dedicated to the study of science, technology, engineering and math – a set of subjects so crucial to our society and our economy. I am proud of what we have all achieved and I hope the young people that study here will be inspired to be creative and to meet their potential.” Calatrava added, “Working with the visionary university leadership and amongst the enthusiastic Lakeland community has been a privilege and I wish everyone associated with this project the best of luck in coming years.”

Randy K. Avent, President of Florida Polytechnic University, said, “We’re extremely excited to be launching our new university this month. Santiago Calatrava has produced an inspiring learning facility, and we can’t wait to welcome our inaugural class for this first academic year. This is an institution and campus that all of us in Lakeland and across the state of Florida can be proud of.”

Das „Innovation, Science and Technology Building (IST)“ der Florida Polytechnic University steht in Lakeland etwa 50 Meilen südwestlich von Orlando. Das ovale zweistöckige Gebäude wirkt sehr technisch, harmoniert aber mit dem See, der es umschließt, und der landschaftlich reizvollen Umgebung.

Der Komplex beinhaltet Büros für die Fakultät, Unterrichtsräume und die erste volldigitale Universitätsbibliothek, in der an Terminals 135.000 E-Books abgerufen werden können. Die Baukosten für den futuristischen Komplex lagen bei etwa 60 Millionen US-Dollar.

Zwei Umgänge umschließen die ovale Form des Gebäudes, einer im Erdgeschoss und einer im ersten Stockwerk. BEGA LED-Scheinwerfer fügen sich nahtlos ein in die filigrane Wand- und Deckenkonstruktion, die die Wege umschließt. Während des Tages wirft diese Decke interessante Schatten. In der Nacht werden die Räume dank des leistungsstarken Lichtstroms und der Streuwinkel der Scheinwerfer in ein gleichmäßig angenehmes Licht getaucht.

Zwei große Treppen, eine an jedem Ende des Ovals, führen in die obere Etage in das Herzstück des Gebäudes: die Mehrzweckbibliothek sowie die Lernräume für die Studenten mit hohen Decken und einer beeindruckenden Dachfenster-Konstruktion.

Die Oberlichter schirmen das Sonnenlicht durch ein komplexes System von motorisierten Aluminium-Jalousien ab, die angehoben oder abgesenkt werden können wie riesige Flügel. Das schützt vor zu starker Sonneneinstrahlung und zu starkem Aufheizen der Räumlichkeiten. Diese Flügel der Dachkonstruktion werden von 94 individuell einstellbaren Lamellen gebildet. Wenn alle Jalousien geschlossen sind, gelangt immer noch genügend Tageslicht in den Innenraum, während eine Reihe von geometrischen Schatten den Boden bedeckt.

Die Struktur des Gebäudes besteht hauptsächlich aus Aluminium, Beton und Glas. In der Nacht erleuchten BEGA Scheinwerfer die Innenseiten der verschachtelten Aluminium-Rippen der Pergola.