PROJECT OVERVIEW

When the University of Central Florida set out to construct a new building for the College of Nursing, the institution charged the architects with designing a structure compatible with other buildings on campus while still exhibiting its own unique identity.

Read more about this project in the Summer 2026 issue of Ascent.

PRECAST SOLUTION

Over the years, the University of Central Florida has employed architectural precast concrete extensively to both modernize campus buildings with each new addition and create a uniform campus aesthetic.

Owner

University of Central Florida

Architect

Ayers Saint Gross, HunterBrady Architects

Structural Engineer

Walter P Moore

General Contractor

DPR Construction

Precast Concrete Producer

Wells

Photo Credit

Chad Baumer

Key Project Attributes

• UCF wanted the new structure to feature a more modern design than its College of Medicine on the Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona, Fla., which opened in 2010.

Project/Precast Scope

• The architectural precast concrete around the pavilion’s windows is arranged in a randomized pattern. The design required a lot of unique pieces
• Because of budget limitations, designers had to minimize glass on the project. To make the windows appear larger than they are, the architectural panels [that surround them] are designed with a taper next to each piece of glass, so the panel gets thinner and more textured as it approaches the glazing.
• The light-colored precast concrete helped to mitigate the head island effect while simultaneously providing a durable exterior surface that can withstand hurricane-force winds and debris.