LAKELAND, FL — Florida Polytechnic University celebrated a milestone with the ribbon cutting of the Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center — a $15 million academic facility and the latest addition to the university’s campus. VHB provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services for the campus educational facility.
The new Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center features advanced research and development labs for multiple engineering disciplines, faculty, and staff offices, flexible collaboration spaces, and a conference room. Spanning 40,000 square feet, this building is designed to elevate Florida Polytechnic University’s engineering programs.
In addition to Florida Poly leaders and state and local community officials, VHB employees Cameron Langerman, Director of Land Development, and Ivy Clinton, Project Manager and Design Studio Lead, were joined by project partners DLR Group and CPPI for the ribbon cutting.
“The completion of this visionary project is a bit of a full circle moment for our team,” Clinton said. “It’s gratifying to know that the new facility will support Florida Polytechnic University’s students and its future engineers, while tangibly contributing to the growth and continued sustainability of the engineering industry.”
The ceremony also commemorated the collaborative spirit and sustainable design that brought the Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center to life. VHB contributed paving and grading design, in addition to planning and design for the building’s utilities, stormwater system, and ADA accessibility. The team worked on this project while actively pursuing and gaining Green Globe Certification through the Green Building Initiative, an organization dedicated to reducing climate impacts by improving the built environment. The certification demonstrates leadership in creating spaces that prioritize environmental stewardship, occupant well-being, and long-term resilience.
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“VHB is proud to continue to have a broad impact and partner with our local colleges and universities to plan, design, and create places where their students, researchers, and faculty can thrive,” said Tyler Johnson, VHB Southeast Regional Institutional Lead. “Achieving this milestone is more than just a campus enhancement; it is also a testament to our commitment to meeting the needs of tomorrow’s engineers.”
