With shovels hitting the ground and scooping up dirt, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus marks a major milestone aimed at expanding access to high-quality lab instruction in chemistry, biology, and physics for students across the university.
Interim Regional Chancellor Brett Kemker shares remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony
Today's groundbreaking for the campus’ STEM academic facility celebrates a long-standing vision that will soon become reality.
“As we look ahead, we remain committed to ensuring that every dollar invested in this campus translates into measurable outcomes, better-prepared graduates, stronger partnerships, and a more resilient regional economy,” stated Interim Regional Chancellor Brett Kemker.
The groundbreaking brought together state lawmakers, university leaders, and community stakeholders. Distinguished guests donned hard hats as they lifted their shovels for the ceremonial first dig traditionally used to mark the start of major construction projects.
After all, it’s not just higher education, it’s higher purpose.
Brett Kemker, interim regional chancellor
“Our outstanding students bring talent and passion to campus every day,” commented USF President Rhea Law. “They deserve a facility that eliminates schedule disruptions caused by the commute to other locations, and that enhances their ability to explore, discover and innovate.”
Set to open in Fall 2027, the new facility will be approximately 7,000 gross square feet of state-of-the-art laboratories for an estimated cost of $6.5 million. As it now stands, students are required to leave campus to attend lab sessions at partner facilities.
USF President Law with student speaker Abigail Pal
Abigail Pal, a USF biology student and laboratory assistant, was asked to share remarks at the ceremony. She commented on the location of current off-campus facilities, noting getting there often requires a long and sometimes arduous drive.
“It’s always a bit of an adventure, and, sometimes, a gamble,” Pal said. “The commute will go from an hour – to a short, simple walk across campus.”
This project is an investment in students, faculty, and the community.
Students gain access to state-of-the-art, on-campus facilities for experiential learning and the exploration of high-demand fields. Faculty receive cutting-edge instructional tools needed to advance an Research 1, Association of American Universities institution. And the community fills a vital local labor shortage with expertly trained and highly qualified STEM and health care professionals.
“All successful institutions are connected and committed to their communities,” said USF Board of Trustees member and Campus Board Chair Rick Piccolo, “and we have grown hand in hand with you, and because of you.”
Following the expiration of the lease for lab space at Mote Marine Laboratory in May 2025, USF Sarasota-Manatee submitted a proposal to construct a lab facility on campus. With enthusiastic support from Law and Provost Prasant Mohapatra, the proposal received unanimous approval from the USF Board of Trustees Finance Committee in late August 2025.
STEM education helps develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation skills by using the four subjects through hands-on learning.
“Working in the lab taught me that questions are encouraged, and mistakes aren’t failure; they’re how we learn,” said Pal, the biology student.
As fanfare surrounding the groundbreaking subsided, and the gold-painted shovels were put away, reality emerged. The STEM facility will soon be a fixture on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, marking a place for students to broaden their horizons with a facility they can call their own.
Photography by Kim McDonald, University Communications and Marketing.
