Step into the future right here at the Maureen A. Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building. It stands as a testament to vision and progress. The University of Tampa decided it needed to up its game. It wanted to make a splash in cybersecurity and entrepreneurship education.
This wasn’t going to be a small upgrade. The university aimed to set a new standard for learning. Fast forward two years and the Maureen A. Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building opened. The university surpassed its goals. This building is more than just classrooms. It’s a hub of innovation.
Maureen A. Daly has been connected with UT since 1987. She helped create a scholarship fund for accounting students. She also served on the Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2011. She even chaired the board. Daly was the board’s first female chair. Her support stems from her ties to UT and her entrepreneurial journey.
The Maureen A. Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building spans 213000 square feet. It has eight stories. Inside, you’ll find academic and administrative spaces. There are also cybersecurity classrooms. Plus, the College of Business Entrepreneurship Center is here. Retail spaces, faculty offices and meeting areas are also available.
A highlight is the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. It’s located on the 8th floor. This center features an executive lecture hall. There is also a pitch room. Informal lounge areas encourage learning through experience. Walnut wood panels adorn the space.
These panels aren’t just for looks. They enhance acoustics. Aluratone acoustical panels and Curvalon curved panels are used. Flat Veneer panels add to the design. The layout is intricate. It includes ceiling panels, columns and stair caps. Designers used 3D renderings to visualize the space. This helped the manufacturing teams understand the geometry.
The design process was collaborative. Rulon International worked closely with the design and construction teams. They made sure each component fit perfectly. The installation team played a vital role. They ensured the panels were placed correctly.
The Maureen A. Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building opened in September. It features three floors of academic and administrative space. There are also four floors of parking. The building also includes high-tech cybersecurity labs. Campus safety offices and innovative classrooms are here. Study spaces and faculty offices are also available. A Starbucks Reserve store is located here too.
Daly was a key figure in forming Romac International now KForce Professional Staffing. She helped take the company public in 1995. Today KForce is a Fortune 500 company. Daly has held leadership positions in many organizations. These include the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay and the Tampa Museum of Art.
Her collection of Princess Diana dresses became famous. They were displayed in a traveling museum. This helped raise funds for AIDS cancer and children’s charities. Daly even wrote a book about her experience titled “My Decade with Diana”.
The Maureen A. Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building stands tall. It shows what vision collaboration and commitment can achieve. As you leave remember the spirit of innovation. It’s a place where the future is being built today.