page_title: Florida Polytechnic University
section_title: Innovation, Science, and Technology (IST) Building
hierarchical_section_title: Florida Polytechnic University / Campus / Innovation, Science, and Technology (IST) Building
caption_attribution_description: English: Inside the main building of Florida Polytechnic University.
context_page_description: Florida Polytechnic University is a public university in Lakeland, Florida. Created as an independent university in 2012, it is the newest of the 12 institutions in the State University System of Florida. It is the state's only public polytechnic university, and focuses solely on STEM education.
  The institution originated as a branch campus of the University of South Florida, which opened in 1988. The State of Florida authorized a new campus in 2008, and renamed the school University of South Florida Polytechnic. In 2012, the Florida Legislature initiated plans to dissolve the USF branch campus and reform the Lakeland institution into an independent school. Florida Poly opened for classes on August 25, 2014 with an inaugural class of 554 students.
  Florida Poly resides on a 170-acre campus. The university's Innovation, Science and Technology Building, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, is home to a 3-D printing lab, cyber gaming and media lab, cyber security lab, robotics lab, and a big data lab. In addition, Florida Poly is the first university whose campus library is completely digital.
context_section_description: The 162,000-square-foot Innovation, Science, and Technology (IST) Building is the University's main facility. It houses 26 classrooms, faculty and administrative offices, 11,000-square-foot Saddle Creek Logistics Commons, seven innovation labs–including a 3D printing lab, cybersecurity lab, and health informatics lab–where students are able to get hands-on experience with the latest technology. The building is also home to the school's digital library. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the building includes 94 robotic louvers on the roof that move to accommodate changing sunlight patterns.
  Applied Research Center
  The Applied Research Center (ARC) is under construction with an anticipated opening in spring 2021. The new 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. A dedicated section of the center will assist with commercialization of innovation and applied research and send new inventions into the marketplace.  
caption: Inside the main facility
exif: {}