Florida State University - Interdisciplinary Research & Commercialization Building

A Materials Science "Idea Factory"

The IRCB will accommodate faculty research needs of FSU and collaborative groups working in the broader areas of energy, materials, light, quantum science, engineering, and nanoscience. The impetus for this facility is directly linked to FSU’s strategic decisions to grow the faculty in these areas. Past, ongoing, and future investments make the most of the existing strengths across campus, including the presence of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), the Applied Superconductivity Center (ASC), the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS), and the High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI) at FSU.

HGA’s design provided siting options for multiple phases of development in two Southwest Campus locations. The exterior architecture is derived from the main campus collegiate Gothic style using similar materials and proportioning. Envisioned as a hub for research, programming and design are intended to promote collaboration—the catalyst for significant innovation and discovery. The 116,000 SF building will consist of three floors of mostly open labs, sized for up to 30 research groups, 24 postdoctoral researchers and 155 graduate and undergraduate students. Merging physical and traditionally virtual academic and professional fields encourages informal dialogue and spontaneous exchanges. This human-centered intellectual environment is flexible and adaptable and can easily accommodate changing paradigms in research methodologies.

Over the last 30 years, FSU has had one of the most successful revenue-generating commercialization programs in the nation, giving rise to over $350M. The IRCB is an opportunity to strategically expand those efforts while meeting the teaching and research mission of the institution in a unique interdisciplinary context. As part of the “Path to Top 25” initiative, FSU intends to hire dozens of tenure-track faculty in science disciplines. Faculty research will yield 50-60 added discovery/invention disclosures and 12-15 more patents per year. The building will provide a fertile environment for the development of spin-off companies based on this intellectual property.

In April 2023, FSU announced plans to increase funding for quantum science and engineering over the next three years. Funding will support hiring at least eight new faculty members, equipment, and dedicated space in the IRCB, and seed money for a new program focused on this emerging field.