Find out what's new on campus from study spaces, to an upgraded pool, public art installations and fun new wraps on the Bull Runners.
Indoor Pool at Campus Recreation
TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2014) - University of South Florida’s indoor pool was built in 1963. This is the first major renovation since the original installation and there were three major components that were done: a new deck with sprinkled gold and green sand to create a nice texture and color, the interior of the pool was resurfaced with a marcite and rock mixture and the interior was painted with green and gold colors, including the iconic USF U.
Improvements that are not as visible include a new salt filtration system that was installed, which is a more environmentally friendly way to provide chlorine to the pool. A new sand filtration system, which cleans the water on a daily basis, is also more environmentally friendly. A fan and a ventilation system were added so the hot air gets pulled out of the building and the new air comes in to replace that.
The pool renovations were funded by the Capital Improvement Trust Fund money - which is abbreviated CITF. These funds include a small portion of students’ tuition money that is pooled statewide in Tallahassee with each university getting a share based on their enrollment.
In 2011 the Campus Recreation Center was expanded and renovated making it one of the largest recreation centers in the state. It’s about 38,000 ft. of fitness space with about 300 cardiovascular pieces of equipment, an indoor track, and racquetball and basketball courts.
Video by Katy Hennig | USF News
Student Locker Rooms at Campus Recreation
The men’s and women’s student locker rooms at Campus recreation have also been renovated and improved utilizing the Capital Improvement Trust Fund money. The renovations include new lockers, showers, carpet, paint and a whole new look.
Photo by Aimee Blodgett | USF News
Library Renovations
Opening for the start of the fall 2014 semester, the first floor of the USF Tampa Library is a newly improved modern and practical space for students to achieve academic success.
The space includes more functional furniture in the center of the library’s first floor. The wooden cubicles on the west side of the ground floor have been replaced with round tables resembling those in the Smart Lab, allowing for about 50 more computers in the area.
The center tables will run along a mid-height wall with a translucent glass divider to ensure the students’ privacy and the wall provides electric outlets available at each table for students to plug in their electronic devices.
The updates include the Digital Media Commons area, providing students new technology and space to work on digital projects, using the university’s high-end computers and software, and video cameras and microphones will be available for check out. This area will be staffed with student employees to help their peers with questions about using the new technology.
Two, 8-foot computer boards and other technology tools that will give students the opportunity to work collaboratively in the Digital Media Commons have been donated by Promethean, a Leading Education Solutions Provider whose chairman is a USF graduate.
The renovations at the library are funded through the state’s Capital Improvement Trust Fund, which distributes money each year to Florida’s public universities.
Photo by Aimee Blodgett | USF News
USF Bookstore Café, Patio, Swings
University of South Florida’s Bookstore underwent an extension renovation in partnership with Barnes & Noble College. Among the exciting new changes - relocation of the Barnes & Noble Café to the main level, the creation of outdoor patio seating, expanded emblematic apparel and gifts sections, a new checkout area, a new marketplace area and new fixtures and finishes throughout.
The Café at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore has been expanded and moved to the first floor. Some aspect of all walls and all floors, which totals 23,500 square foot of space, was renovated.
The new space provides a much larger seating area and an adjoining patio with seating adjacent to the Marshall Student Center. Prior to the renovation, the Café only had 14 seats on the second floor. After the renovation, there are 78 seats inside the Café (now located on the first floor) and 35 seats outside of the Café on the new patio. The patio includes new glider swings and additional study spaces.
Photo by Aimee Blodgett | USF News
Newly Wrapped Bull Runners – Three Designs
There are three new looks to the Bull Runners: Rocky, The Iconic U, and Running With the Bulls. There are two buses with each design and they have been rolled out in phases since April of 2014.
Photo by Katy Hennig | USF News
The Plaza
Located outside of the Chemistry building and situated in the heart of the academic district, "The Plaza" is a newly built area funded by a partnership with USF Lakeland and the Tampa Student Government. There will be two butterfly plaques installed in the center, landscaped circle honoring USF Lakeland and all of our USF Lakeland graduates.
The outdoor study space is comprised of various seating options that will accommodate 80-90 people with tables with umbrellas as well as bench seating.
Additional features will be installed throughout the next few weeks and will include 2 SolarDok charging stations and 2 outdoor "living rooms.”
“The Plaza” will also feature an outdoor projector that will display various messages to USF students and the community.
Photo by Aimee Blodgett | USF News
Two New Public Art Installations
Richard Beckman’s, Half the Truth, 1990, is made of welded steel mesh. The sculpture is a gift of the Family of Richard Beckman to the University of South Florida Collection. Beckman was a former faculty member at the College of the Arts at USF. The installation is in the grassy area nestled between the College of the Arts, School of Music and Psychology buildings.
Harrison Covington’s, Concentric Figures, 1996, is painted steel and was purchased in 1996 with funds provided by Florida's Art in State Buildings Program. It was originally installed in the USF Sun Dome and moved after the renovations. It was reinstalled in Simmons Park in August 2014. Covington was a former Dean at the College of the Arts at USF.
View a gallery of other Public Art installations at USF's Tampa Campus here.
