University of Tampa

Multiple Projects and Programs

Tampa, FL

Faith Group provided design and consulting for the University’s data center relocation and decentralization initiative in coordination with their IT & Security and Risk Management groups. While maintaining continuity of operations, the existing data center needed to be decommissioned to make way for future campus expansion, resulting in a rework of the campus fiber optic network backbone, creation of multiple satellite data centers, and a new network system architecture/data lake to form a new decentralized hybrid data center. The satellite data centers included new electrical power, HVAC, and fire protection, with multiple layers of operational back and redundancy in place.

The University also asked Faith Group to develop a comprehensive Security Master Plan. The first initiative established proper security requirements and chose a vendor to consolidate the existing disparate systems. Second, Faith Group identified a middleware product to help maintain data integrity across platforms and expedite provisioning for new services or revocation of services. Finally, Faith Group established standards for new construction and renovations, as well as a revised CCTV plan to provide better security coverage with fewer cameras to maintain an appealing campus environment.

For the new 90,000 sf., 4-story Ferman Arts Center, Faith Group provided security systems design, construction documents, and construction administration services that encompassed access control and video surveillance systems. The new facilities provide studio spaces, recording studios, performance areas/stages, an outdoor art courtyard, classrooms, practice rooms, computer lab, study spaces, and 200-seat theater. Faith Group designed the Ferman Arts Center to be used as a prototype to establish new security standards for future campus buildings.

“We think it’s a good thing for the city — we see ourselves as part of the downtown arts community, with great relationships with the Tampa Museum of Arts, the Straz Center, and we see ourselves contributing to the vitality of arts in downtown Tampa.” – David Gudelunas, Dean College of Arts and Letters, Tampa Bay Business Journal, March 25, 2021