Sanford, FL – March 30, 2016 – Wharton-Smith, Inc., one of Central Florida’s largest locally based general contractors recently celebrated the completion of the $5 million renovation project for the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program. More than 100 guests gathered, including Congressman John Mica, representatives from the Office of Economic Development for Orange County, members of the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce, and Directors of the UCF Business Incubation Program for a ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the grand opening of the newly renovated facility.
“This is where business starts and opportunity is created,” remarked Congressman Mica at the start of the event. The world-class incubator program started 17 years ago and has grown to represent 250 companies, approximately 3,600 employees, and make a $2.5 billion dollar impact to the state of Florida.
The design-build project consisted of 49,000-square-feet of interior renovation of two buildings and includes five new wet labs, seven multi-purpose workrooms, six office suites, over 100 individual offices, conference rooms, lounges, and breakrooms. The project also included new windows and doors, a new roof system, electrical and HVAC upgrades, and the integration of a new fire sprinkler and alarm system. The renovated buildings will allow innovative companies a cutting-edge work facility to develop their business operations and expand research and development capabilities.
“Wharton-Smith was instrumental in helping us move this project forward,” said Gordon Hogan, Director of the UCF Business Incubation Program. “They finished under budget and in less time than expected, a difficult thing to do with a university of our size,” he added.
Since 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped hundreds of early-stage businesses develop into financially stable companies.
“The design-build team of Wharton-Smith and ACi is excited to have been a partner with UCF on this project. This is a community asset and we are proud to have played a role in bringing new business into the Central Florida region,” said Tom Murphy, Project Executive for Wharton-Smith.
