The University of Florida has chosen a lead developer for the first phase of its proposed graduate campus in Downtown Jacksonville.
In an April 13 news release, UF said it chose Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate to head the $287.5 million initial phase after a competitive process that drew interest from development teams nationwide.
The release said Edgemoor, which is based in Bethesda, Maryland, would work with national and local partners that include Clark Construction, Auld & White Constructors, OJB Landscape Architecture, HOK, PQH Group Design, England-Thims Miller, Coastal Connections Group and more.
“Edgemoor and their team bring an excellent track record of executing transformative higher education projects on campuses throughout the country,” said Mori Hosseini, chair of the UF board of trustees, in the release. “The initial UF projects are dynamic and interdisciplinary, and this required engaging a partnership team that will challenge convention and drive decision-making across the university.”
In September 2025, about 100 representatives from potential developers of the campus’ first phase took part in a site visit providing an overview of the project and the process for design and construction.
The campus is planned in and around the historic Jacksonville Terminal rail station in LaVilla.
A rendering of the University of Florida graduate campus in the Downtown LaVilla neighborhood.
UF said in a news release at that time the developer would build “more than 200,000 square feet of high-tech, cutting-edge research, academic, event, retail and administrative office spaces.”
UF says it has amassed $245 million in state funding and private donations for the campus. In June 2025, the city of Jacksonville approved $105 million in Duval County taxpayer funding for the campus through an ordinance to convey five city-owned properties to UF.
Plans call for conversion of the former Interline Brands building at 801 W. Bay St. into classrooms and for construction of two new buildings on property between it and the historic Jacksonville Terminal rail station.
After the build-out of the Interline Brands building and construction of the first two new buildings, the university will shift toward developing new buildings on property west of the train station.
“Selecting a preferred developer is a critical step as we move from planning to execution,” said Donald W. Landry, UF interim president in the April 13 release. “We are excited to work with Edgemoor to deliver a facility that reflects UF’s excellence and meets the needs of students, faculty and industry partners.”