Wide view of the Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center’s modern front façade under a clear blue sky. Small groups of people stand near the entrance on opening day.
Attendees gather outside Florida Polytechnic University’s new Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
1-minute read

Florida Polytechnic University opened its new 40,000-square-foot Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center on Nov. 18. The facility adds state-of-the-art labs and research space to expand engineering programs and support Polk County’s growing high-tech workforce. 

University leaders framed the building as a catalyst for hands-on learning, industry partnerships, and research in autonomous systems, aerospace, health technology and other fast-growing fields.  

“We’re growing at a rapid pace — more than 20% enrollment growth in the past two years — and we simply need more classrooms and lab space to keep up,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Florida Polytechnic University. 

  • The building’s name, “Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center,” appears in bold silver lettering alongside landscaped grasses and tall palm trees.
    A close-up of the Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center signage on the building’s exterior. | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
  • University administrators and officials stand in front of the building’s entrance holding a purple ribbon marked with the Florida Polytechnic University logo.
    Florida Poly leaders cut the ribbon and officially open the Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center. | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
  • A student guide stands in the middle of a lab filled with black worktables and rolling chairs, with high ceilings and visible ductwork overhead.
    A Florida Poly student leads a tour of one of the new collaborative laboratories. | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
  • A spacious lab with black worktables on wheels, rolling stools, polished concrete floors, exposed ductwork, and large windows bringing in natural light.
    A large collaborative classroom inside the Wendt Engineering Center includes movable workstations and industrial lighting for group engineering projects.
  • Close-up view of black tables, power outlets, and a mounted lab poster, with natural light entering through a window.
    A section of the new engineering lab featuring high ceilings, overhead equipment reels, and durable workstations. | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
  • A bright lab space with rows of wooden workbenches, tall ceilings, overhead power reels, and industrial lighting designed for engineering projects.
    One of the new hands-on engineering labs inside the Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center. | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
  • A countertop lined with white cabinets and drawers holds portable black equipment cases and a clear glass testing enclosure. Under-cabinet lighting illuminates the workspace.
    Counter space inside the Wendt Engineering Center displays new lab equipment and storage areas for student research and testing.
  • A white Florida Polytechnic University research vehicle equipped with rooftop sensors is parked inside a large, industrial-style technology bay with high ceilings, bright overhead lighting, and concrete floors.
    Florida Poly’s autonomous vehicle sits inside the new technology bay at the Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center.
  • Close-up of an older green golf cart with worn seats and a large solar panel mounted on top, sitting inside a clean, unfinished lab space with white cabinets along the wall.
    A student-built golf cart outfitted with rooftop solar panels is displayed inside the new engineering center. | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
  • A bright lab space with long white countertops, storage drawers, upper cabinets, and a stainless-steel sink. Exposed ceiling ducts and light gray flooring frame the workspace.
    One of the engineering center’s fabrication labs includes new counter space, storage cabinets, and wash stations for hands-on student projects.
  • Wide view of the Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center’s modern front façade under a clear blue sky. Small groups of people stand near the entrance on opening day.
    Attendees gather outside Florida Polytechnic University’s new Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. | Kayla Borg, LkldNow

Innovative features

The $15 million facility includes:

  • Hands-on engineering labs
  • A large, open technology bay for robotics and autonomous tech
  • High ceilings and roll-up bay doors for full-scale projects
  • Collaborative workspaces for student teams

A second-floor expansion — expected next year — will add dedicated artificial intelligence and cybersecurity operations labs.

Stephenson said the modular labs can be reconfigured for different engineering programs, giving students “the flexibility to prototype, test, and build across disciplines.” 

The Wendt building is the university’s third major academic building joining the Innovation, Science, and Technology Building and the Barnett Applied Research Center. It supports Florida Poly’s long-term plan to grow to 3,000 students by 2030. 

“It’s exciting because it gives students like us more opportunities to learn and really flex our muscles — to grow stronger in the areas we feel most comfortable,” said senior engineering student, Jorgeandres Alvarez.

Construction was led by CPPI with architectural design by DLR Group.

Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.

LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.

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Kayla Borg is a Lakeland native and graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned her degree in English and film production. She began her media career in Atlanta at CNN, quickly rising from production assistant editor to technical director/editor, leading live broadcasts alongside field reporters. Since then, she’s worked in education, instructional design and independent filmmaking.

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