Florida State University has named its College of Business after Herbert Wertheim, a highly successful optometrist, inventor, businessman and philanthropist.
Wertheim recently gifted FSU $65 million, the largest single philanthropic donation in the university's history. In 2022, Wertheim donated $100 million to the University of Florida to be used for biomedical research. That gift remains the largest in UF's history.
"A gift of this magnitude is absolutely transformative to the school," says FSU President Richard McCullough. FSU trustees also approved renaming the Business School's new Center for Business Excellence building, formerly known as Legacy Hall, after Wertheim.
Wertheim, 86, is the founder and president of Brain Power, the world's largest manufacturer of optical tints. He is also well known for his extensive philanthropic giving and leadership in areas such as public education, health and the arts.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
Florida Power & Light is listing its former Gulf Power headquarters in Pensacola for sale. The 250,000-sq.-ft., vacant building called One Energy Place sits on a 13-acre waterfront site overlooking Pensacola Bay. FPL has not disclosed the asking price for the property. However, the property currently is assessed at $36 million by Escambia County for ad valorem taxing purposes.
DEVELOPMENT
Leon County commissioners have voted against expanding the urban services area for 1,100 acres owned by the St. Joe Co. The no-vote followed residents' voiced and written concerns that the development would harm the protected Old St. Augustine canopy road. The commission's action follows a recent no-vote on another proposed expansion on land near Lake Jackson.
HEALTH CARE
Pensacola-based HCA Florida West Hospital has completed the first phase of a $130-million renovation project featuring major improvements to its facilities and equipment. Phase two, which includes an $18.4-million emergency room consolidation and renovation that will streamline services and improve patient and staff experiences, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
HOUSING
Developers of the Hawkshaw residential project in downtown Pensacola expect to begin construction by this quarter. Design plans call for a seven-story, 227-unit structure that will include a pool and multilevel parking deck, all overlooking Pensacola Bay. The project has been approved by the city's planning board and the Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency.
MANUFACTURING
Panama City-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group has launched the first of four escort tugs for Seattle-based Saltchuk Marine Services. The vessels are being built at the company's Allanton facility in Bay County and at its Port St. Joe facilities in Gulf County. The tugs are part of Saltchuk Marine's fleet renewal and will operate on the West Coast, Hawaii and Alaska. Joey D'Isernia, CEO of Eastern Shipbuilding Group, says the four tugs "are part of a long-term fleet renewal initiative" at Saltchuk Marine and are designed to improve safety, reliability and operational capabilities.
HOSPITALITY
Construction is underway on the six-story, 320-room Drury Plaza Hotel in Destin. In December, the Destin City Council approved the building permit after requesting that developers install native-only plants and a dedicated "pet relief" area.
$1-Billion Jet Engines
Construction is underway on Williams International's $1.04-billion advanced jet engine manufacturing plant at Okaloosa County's Shoal River Industrial Park. The first-phase 250,000-sq.-ft. facility, scheduled for completion late this year, is part of a long-term, three-phase development expected to bring more than 350 high-tech aerospace jobs to the region. After a long, nationwide competitive search, Williams executives announced in May 2025 its decision to locate the plant at Shoal River. This is the largest single aerospace manufacturing project by a private company in Northwest Florida history.
Space to Grow
Sims-Lohman, one of the nation's largest providers of kitchen cabinets, granite and quartz countertops to building professionals, has purchased a 65,000-sq.-ft. facility in Crestview. One Okaloosa EDC assisted the company with the initial facility search, ultimately leading to the successful property acquisition.
Located near Bob Sikes Airport, the facility will serve as the company's new Gulf Coast headquarters and will accommodate the company's regional distribution needs, along with its granite and quartz countertop manufacturing operations. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to employ 90 people. "This new facility represents a major milestone in our growth strategy," says CEO John Beiersdorfer.
Over the past two years, Ohio-based Sims-Lohman has made a series of strategic acquisitions of kitchen equipment retailers along the Gulf Coast. With the purchases, the company now has 38 sales showrooms, 18 regional distribution centers and seven granite and quartz countertop manufacturing plants across 12 states.