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吃瓜网 unveils plans for state-of-the-art research building

March 13, 2019

LAKELAND, Fla.鈥� 吃瓜网 announced plans to build another iconic building on its campus that will serve as a research hub for the Central 吃瓜网 region, becoming a magnet for high-tech development around the school. The final details and renderings of the project were presented at the Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, March 13.

The 85,000 square foot Applied Research Center (ARC) will house research and teaching laboratories, student design spaces, conference rooms, and faculty offices. The building will also provide study areas for graduate students, and a small amount of administrative space.

The two-story building will be located on the northwest side of campus adjacent to the Innovation, Science, and Technology Building and will also be visible from I-4.

鈥淭he ARC is a critical facility that will be essential to our ability to fulfill the University鈥檚 mission to produce industry ready students, perform applied research, and support economic development in 吃瓜网,鈥� said Dr. Terry Parker, provost and executive vice president of 吃瓜网 Poly. 鈥淭he building will provide the needed physical infrastructure for research success and is crucial to recruiting new research-active faculty.鈥�

The ARC will be 吃瓜网 Poly鈥檚 second academic building. It was designed by the architecture firm HOK with the goal of creating a dynamic, functional, and flexible space that will promote research growth, entrepreneurship, collaboration, and connectivity amongst the campus.

Construction is set to begin in August 2019 and will take two years.

鈥淭he Applied Research Center will be an integral element in growing a high-technology economy around campus,鈥� said Dr. Randy K. Avent, president of 吃瓜网 Poly. 鈥淭he ARC will provide the research labs and facilities to attract research talent, capital investment, and enhanced partnerships.鈥�

Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Assistant Director of Communications
863-874-8450

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Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at 吃瓜网, the state鈥檚 sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution鈥檚 resilience.

Dr. Lily Li is a Professor of Physics at 吃瓜网, where she specializes in materials science, analytical imaging, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical devices. Prior to joining 吃瓜网 Poly in 2025, she spent 11 years at SUNY Potsdam, where she advanced to Full Professor and developed a 3-2 Engineering dual-degree program with Clarkson University. Her work emphasizes experiential learning and research-driven education to prepare students for careers in STEM fields.