A True Economic Engine

Nova Southeastern University builds an “academical village” for the 21st century

When Thomas Jefferson conceived an "academical village" nearly 200 years ago, he described a community of scholars and students living and working closely together, inspired by a campus that promoted the free flow of ideas.

Today, Nova Southeastern University , whose main campus is in Fort Lauderdale , is planning another "academical village" -one with a 21st century twist. NSU, the largest private, not-for-profit institution of higher education in Florida and the 10th largest nationally, will be building a mixed-use, high-tech research office park that will bring together the best minds in science from academia, government and industry.

NSU recently announced this joint venture with private developers in ownership of a contiguous 30-acre shopping center plaza near the 1-595 and University Drive interchange. Within the next five years, this shopping center will be transformed into an academical village and integrated into the university's 300-acre main campus.

The village, a $350 million investment, will cover 26 acres and add up to 2 million square feet of research, office, retail and residential space, as well as a new hotel conference center. It is expected to generate millions of dollars in tax revenue and workforce development in high-tech jobs for South Florida . The end result will be the creation of an atmosphere ideal for conducting business in South Florida .

Centers of excellence

The village will house many "centers of excellence" in a variety of academic fields, including the recently announced collaborative effort between NSU, the University of Florida and Florida Atlantic University .

Officials at the three universities believe that the establishment of such a center by the United States Geological Survey - to be known as the International Center of Excellence for Environmental Sciences - will be a key contributor in the $8.5 billion Everglades Restoration Project, the United States' largest public works project.

Such a center of excellence would serve as a scientific hub for environmental research, development and education, including scientific laboratories, research libraries and high-speed computer modeling systems.

Connecting with the South Florida Community

NSU has long been an economic engine for South Florida . The university creates more than a $1.6 billion annual financial impact on the state of Florida , and it provides residents and businesses with state-of-the-art high-tech facilities. Facilities such as the new 325,000-square-foot Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center , the state's largest library, and all of its electronic databases are open to the business community and the general public, as well as to NSU students, faculty and staff.

NSU continues to demonstrate its commitment to provide challenges, opportunities and rewards, not only to students, educators and researchers, but also to the community as a whole. In short, just another example, says President Ray Ferrero Jr., of how NSU is going "beyond the classroom."