Innovation Square is still being built, but it already secured two state awards for cutting-edge thinking.
The Florida Redevelopment Association awarded the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency two awards for its work on Innovation Square: one for best innovative concept and one for one of the best urban redevelopment projects in the state, according to a press release.
Innovation Square, located about two blocks from UF, is a 40-acre area dedicated to developing research and high-tech businesses. The first building in Innovation Square, Florida Innovation Hub at UF, is as an incubator for startup companies.
“We’re going to support entrepreneurship and creativity in our community,” said Ed Poppell, director of economic development at Innovation Square.
The Square could eventually have 5.5 million square feet of businesses, academic environments and apartments.
Carol Westmoreland, executive director of the Florida Redevelopment Association, said a lot of people aren’t aware of how much work the city put into developing Innovation Square. The award committee selected the agency out of about 60 other entries.
Kelly Huard Fisher, interim director for the Community Redevelopment Agency, said it began laying the groundwork for Innovation Square about two years ago.
Gainesville Regional Utilities, Shands at UF and private companies are working with the agency on the plan.
“What sets the whole initiative apart is the level of collaboration and planning,” Fisher said. “You really don’t see all these kinds of entities get together.”
Westmoreland agreed, saying the partnerships have made the project possible.
“It’s really a beautiful thing in my book,” she said.
