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The University of Tampa held an opening celebration for its newest and largest building on campus Friday with a brief ceremony and ribbon cutting.

The Grand Center, which began construction in 2022, is a multi-story, multipurpose building that serves as a dynamic hub for academic, cultural and social engagement, offering innovative spaces for learning, collaboration and community building.

Abigail King ‘25, Student Government president, spoke on behalf of the students.

“Being a fourth-year student here at the University, I cannot believe what is put before my eyes,” she said.

“The spaces here are directly for the students,” King said. “So much collaboration has already been happening in this building that I can't wait to see the further collaboration to come.”

The Grand Center houses the Southard Institute for Sales Excellence, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the International Programs Office, an additional campus Starbucks café and a Student Veterans Lounge.

The building features five stories of residence hall space that houses nearly 700 students and has a parking garage for more than 450 cars, including 22 with electric vehicle charging stations.

Scott Gossen, assistant vice president of design, construction and facilities, told the crowd that when the project first began in the summer of 2021, it was initially planned to be a standalone parking garage.

Instead, they moved the parking garage up to activate the ground floor, which Gossen said was “very intentional.”

By doing so, the University is able to directly connect students to the resources offered in the building.

“And really what we’re trying to do is to help our students find their place and their spot on campus,” he said.

In alignment with UTampa’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the Grand Center was designed and constructed to be a candidate for the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The building features solar-reflective paving and roof materials, plumbing fixtures that use less water than standard code requires, energy-efficient lighting and other sustainable features.

“As we move forward, the Grand Center will play a critical role in our mission to foster academic excellence, encourage creative expression and build a strong, inclusive community,” said President Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg.

“It's a place where innovation will thrive, new ideas will be born and where our students will be empowered to become the leaders of tomorrow.”

For more information about the Grand Center, visit utampa.edu/campus-life/residence-life/grand-center-residence-hall.