Fitzgerald Collaborative was commissioned to redesign the Food Science Research Lab, Classrooms and Conference Room at Florida A&M University. Combined, approximately 4,200 SF was renovated. The Food Science program includes research areas in viticulture and small fruit, water resources, and biological control. The labs were reconfigured to include a commercial test kitchen with fume hood and ansul system, as well as virtual classroom technology to ensure that students could attend classes remotely during the pandemic.

Design services for the renovation project included planning, emergency egress analysis, finish selection, and specialty lab equipment selection. Though the project included hazardous materials abatement for asbestos and experienced longer lead times and delivery delays due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, FC was able to avoid excessive schedule overruns because of our diligent design management process and experience with similar projects.