Florida Construction News staff writer
The University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) celebrated a milestone this week with the groundbreaking of its new Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture (CAAIA), marking a key moment in the school’s centennial celebrations.
State officials, university leaders, business representatives, faculty, and project partners attended the ceremony, which included remarks highlighting the center’s role in advancing agricultural research and supporting Florida’s rural communities.
“The new center will harness the power of AI to enhance productivity, sustainability, and the quality of life for farmers and rural communities,” said Dr. Nathan Boyd, Associate Center Director and Professor of Horticulture/Weed Science.
Dr. Jack Rechcigl, GCREC Director, emphasized the project’s potential to transform agriculture through innovative technologies, while attendees toured current facilities to see ongoing research in action.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2027, and the 50,000-square-foot facility will feature prototyping shops for agricultural machinery, flexible forum and event spaces, offices, and open collaboration areas. According to the GCREC, CAAIA will unite faculty and technical experts to design, test, and deploy AI-based solutions for farmers across Florida, the U.S., and globally.
The center will also serve as a hub for training and extension programs, with a forum that can host both small seminars and large presentations, opening onto a covered outdoor porch. The development will transform a car-centric office park site into a pedestrian-friendly campus, with plans for a vibrant pedestrian zone connecting other academic buildings. The project is targeting Florida Green Building Coalition Gold certification.
Key consultants for the project include: Walter P Moore (Structural Engineer), Affiliated Engineers (MEP/FPT Engineers), NV5 (Civil Engineer/Landscape Architect), Siebein Associates (Acoustical Consultant), HKA (Code Consultant), Research Facilities Design (Laboratory Consultant), and Walbridge (Construction Manager).
