When UFCD’s Dental Science Building opened in 1976, it was a landmark achievement that, for the first time, united
our faculty, staff, students and residents under one roof after four years of operating across scattered locations on the UF campus. Designed for the cutting-edge dentistry of its time, the facility became a cornerstone of innovation and collaboration.
In the half-century since, dental education and clinical care have evolved dramatically. The college has grown considerably in size and scope, adding new programs, services and people, while earning a national and international reputation for excellence. To meet the demands of this continued growth, we are launching a transformative addition and modernization project to establish a premier center for dental innovation and advancement.
The project begins with essential repairs to the building envelope, followed by construction of an addition and renovations to key spaces within the existing dental tower. These upgrades will include significant infrastructure improvements and introduce a prominent new entrance – serving as a gateway to UF and the western face of the Academic Health Center complex. The design will be modern, open and welcoming, in alignment with the UF Campus Master Plan.
Beyond integrating state-of-the-art technology, the new and renovated spaces will foster greater collaboration among residents and faculty across our advanced education specialties. By bringing these programs into contiguous clinical and didactic teaching spaces, we strengthen the interdisciplinary approaches that fuel discovery and enable the treatment of complex cases.
This project will also allow us to increase the DMD class size and enhance specialty resident training. In turn, these new professionals will help meet Florida’s growing need for a skilled dental workforce, expand access to care and reinforce the college’s longstanding commitment to serve the public.
Ultimately, this building project aligns our physical space and technological vision with our strategic mission. It creates foundation for UFCD to lead and shape the future of dental medicine—securing our legacy at the forefront of the field for generations to come.