A month after selecting a developer for its graduate campus in Downtown Jacksonville, the University of Florida released an updated rendering May 12 of plans for its first new construction project for the endeavor.
Designs from Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate show an eight-story building at the corner of West Bay and Lee streets in the LaVilla neighborhood. The rendering also shows space for outdoor seating, street parking and balconies jutting from the largely glass structure.
In a statement, UF board of trustees Chair Mori Hosseini said the university’s plans would be further refined from the May 12 rendering.
“We are thrilled to have begun design and planning for the first new building for UF Jacksonville,” Hosseini said. “This updated rendering shows the promise of our efforts. It is important to note that this rendering of the first building is a starting point; it will evolve as the developer team and the university work together to refine the vision into what ultimately will be a spectacular facility and the keystone of a world-class campus.”
In September 2025, about 100 representatives from potential developers of the campus’ first phase took part in a site visit, which included an overview of the project and the process for design and construction.
The campus is planned in and around the historic Jacksonville Terminal rail station in LaVilla.
UF said in a news release at that time the developer would build “more than 200,000 square feet of high-tech, cutting-edge research, academic, event, retail and administrative office spaces.”
UF says it has amassed $245 million in state funding and private donations for the campus. In June 2025, the city of Jacksonville approved $105 million in Duval County taxpayer funding for the campus through an ordinance to convey five city-owned properties to UF.
Plans call for conversion of the former Interline Brands building at 801 W. Bay St. into classrooms and for the construction of two new buildings on the property between it and the rail station.
After the build-out of the Interline Brands building and construction of the first two new buildings, the university said it would shift toward developing new buildings on property west of the rail station.