The University of South Florida’s biomedical engineering program is growing rapidly, driving increased recruitment of primary investigators and demand for advanced research space. In response, CPL’s Higher Education Practice partnered with the university to reimagine the 7th floor of the Interdisciplinary Science Building—aligning facility investment with long-term goals for research growth, student engagement and program identity.

Client
University of South Florida

Location
Tampa, Florida

Key Contact
Mark Mistriner

Photographer
Seamus Payne

Completed
2026

Project Budget
$5.5 M

Services
Architecture, Interior Design
Community

The renovation transforms a former welcome center into a series of purpose-built environments that support research, teaching and student engagement.

Within this framework, research laboratories are tailored to individual primary investigators, each designed around specific equipment, workflows and research methods. Adjacent graduate write-up spaces a direct connection to active research, while a faculty-led teaching lab supports repeated instructional use by rotating student groups.

A makerspace, converted from former offices and conference rooms, supports biomedical prototyping and testing through digital fabrication tools, enabling rapid development and validation of emerging technologies. A dedicated student engagement space further expands how the building supports interaction, providing a flexible environment for classes, collaboration and informal gathering.

A modern laboratory at USF - ISA Biomedical Labs, with four people in white lab coats conducting experiments and using laptops. The room is bright with gray workstations and green walls.

Across all spaces, strategic design moves reinforce visibility and connection. Interior glazing allows students to observe research activity while maintaining required separation, while carefully introduced daylight improves spatial quality and helps reduce the close-in nature often found in research environments.

For students, these environments create a more connected academic experience—linking classroom learning, hands-on experimentation and active research within a single building. The result is greater exposure to real-world scientific work and more meaningful engagement with faculty-led discovery.

A modern lab with bright lighting, featuring a man and woman in lab coats. They are engaged in conversation, surrounded by lab equipment and shelves of bottles at USF - ISA Biomedical Labs.

For the University of South Florida, the impact extends beyond the renovation itself. The project strengthens research capacity, supports recruitment of leading investigators and enhances the university’s ability to deliver advanced biomedical innovation.

A person in a sweater points at a whiteboard with chemical diagrams, while a person in a white coat types on a computer. Another person sits on a windowsill, watching. The mood is focused and collaborative at USF - ISA Biomedical Labs
Modern office with a collaborative space where a man and woman work on a laptop at a high table. Others work at desks and behind glass windows at USF - ISA Biomedical Labs.
A modern space at USF - ISA Biomedical Labs, with four people: one working on a laptop, another writing on a whiteboard, and a person watching. A fourth is in a kitchenette.
Modern lounge area at University of South Florida, featuring people chatting, working on laptops, and a vibrant ceiling design, creating a collaborative atmosphere at ISA Biomedical Labs

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