From left, Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia; Florida International University President Jeanette M. Nuñez; state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez; state Rep. Alex Rizo; Jack Puleo, dean of FIU’s College of Engineering & Computing; and state Rep. Omar Blanco pose with a ceremonial $15 million check in front of the large fan at FIU’s Wall of Wind 2.0 facility.
Vanessa Castillo/Florida International University
MIAMI — Florida International University has received a $15 million investment from the Florida Legislature to expand hurricane research and testing at the FIU Wall of Wind, the university announced.
FIU President Jeanette M. Nuñez joined Florida state Rep. Alex Rizo and state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez for a check presentation recognizing the funding on Sept. 8.
The money will support the next-phase Wall of Wind facility, known as WOW 2.0, which will allow the testing system to grow from one fan to two. The expansion is designed to simulate stronger hurricanes and wind patterns that change over time, including downbursts.
With WOW 2.0, researchers will be able to test structures, building components, building materials and construction methods against winds of up to 200 mph.
WOW 2.0 also will help prepare for a planned full-scale research and testing facility called Extreme Storm Simulator, or ExtremeS. That facility is intended to study the combined effects of extreme wind, storm surge, waves and flooding.
FIU said its Wall of Wind is the nation’s only university-based facility that can simulate a Category 5 hurricane and test structures at full scale. The university said the facility has supported research since 2012 into extreme weather and ways to reduce hurricane and other severe storm impacts.