SARASOTA, Fla. (Sept. 3, 2025) -— The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus today announced plans to build the development of a new STEM academic facility, a transformative project that will expand access to high-quality lab instruction in chemistry, biology, and physics for students across all USF campuses.
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 President Rhea Law and Provost Prasant Mohapatra, the proposal received unanimous approval from the USF Board of Trustees Finance Committee in late August, 2025.
The new facility will be approximately 7,000 gross square feet and will include modern labs, prep space, restrooms, utilities, site work, equipment, and furnishings. The total project cost is $6.5 million.
“This project represents a major step forward in our commitment to STEM education and student success,” said 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.”
In Fiscal Year 2025, USF Sarasota-Manatee taught 39 sections of biology and chemistry to more than 460 students at Mote Marine Laboratory. For Fiscal Year 2026, the campus will temporarily lease space at the Roskamp Institute. Once the new facility opens, USF will no longer need to lease off-campus space for teaching labs.
Construction is expected to begin in 12–18 months, with a targeted opening in Fall 2027.
The rendering below is conceptual. The final design is subject to change.
About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, a high-impact research university dedicated to student success and committed to community engagement, generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. With campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF serves approximately 50,000 students who represent nearly 150 different countries. U.S. News & World Report has ranked USF as one of the nation’s top 50 public universities for five consecutive years, and this year USF earned its highest ranking ever among all universities public or private. In 2023, USF became the first public university in Florida in nearly 40 years to be invited to join the Association of American Universities, a prestigious group of the leading universities in the United States and Canada. Through hundreds of millions of dollars in research activity each year and as one of the top universities in the world for securing new patents, USF is a leader in solving global problems and improving lives. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.