Florida Gulf Coast University’s 11th academic building will be a premier learning, research and outreach institute in Charlotte County developed in collaboration with Babcock Ranch and dedicated to advancing sustainability and resiliency.

The university received $21.7 million in the 2025-26 state budget to support the project’s first phase. Depending on final design plans, it is estimated to total $89.8 million.

The state-of-the-art, 125,000-square-foot facility builds on a formal partnership signed in 2023 between FGCU and Babcock Ranch outlining a shared commitment to advancing education, research and sustainable development.

In addition to donating land for the building, Babcock Ranch developer Kitson & Partners will provide $3 million towards related initiatives with FGCU. The community northeast of Fort Myers is recognized for its sustainable development and resilient design.

“This investment underscores the strong partnership between FGCU and Babcock Ranch and our shared commitment to sustainability, education and meaningful community impact,” said FGCU President Aysegul Timur.

“By expanding access to higher education in rural and fast-growing areas, we are helping to shape a stronger, more resilient Southwest Florida while addressing challenges that resonate far beyond our region.”

Creating educational and research facilities has always been part of the broader vision for Babcock Ranch, the nation’s first solar-powered town. The master-planned community already has established K-12 charter schools as part of the Charlotte County school system.

“From our earliest plans, we envisioned a community where lifelong learning would be embedded into everyday life as evidenced by Babcock Schools,” said Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners. “The arrival of a higher education institution like FGCU brings that vision full circle, offering world-class academic opportunities right here at Babcock Ranch and helping us fulfill our commitment to fostering a community built on knowledge, innovation and purpose.”

The facility will offer a full slate of educational opportunities from undergraduate and graduate courses to micro-credential programs. It will expand access to dual enrollment for local high school students, offer lifelong learning and cultural programs through FGCU Academy and support workforce development.

FGCU’s schools and colleges will be involved in a variety of ways:

• Water and environmental research through The Water School

• Agri-tech advancement through the Lutgert College of Business

• Advanced technology and artificial intelligence via Dendritic: A Human Centered AI and Data Sciences Institute in the A. Whitaker College of Engineering

• Support for aging populations through the Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging in Marieb College of Health & Human Services

• Expanded teacher training and student engagement through the College of Education and its work with Babcock Schools.

The new facility will also function as a hub for collaboration by hosting events and conferences focused on sustainability and resilient community planning. The venture also highlights the power of public-private partnerships, creating a platform for bold ideas that can be replicated and scaled beyond Southwest Florida.

Kitson and Timur expressed appreciation for the strong support shown by Gov. Ron DeSantis and members of the Florida Legislature, including Senate President Ben Albritton, Speaker Daniel Perez and Representative Tiffany Esposito, whose leadership was instrumental in securing this critical funding.

“We are incredibly grateful to Governor DeSantis and our legislative champions who recognized the importance of investing in higher education, cutting-edge technology and sustainable community development,” Timur said.

For now, FGCU is assessing the design needs of the academic services that will be located in Academic Building 11 at Babcock Ranch. The final design will dictate the construction timeline. These details will be announced later.