A new building (Robotics and Autonomous Systems Laboratory Building for Coastal Conservation and Restoration at BBC) will consist of a multi-use, multi-purpose building that will include offices and shared laboratory and Research and Development space for faculty and students associated with this initiative, manufacturing space to construct large-scale autonomous vehicles and a space for testing capabilities such as a hydrostatic tank to determine pressure tolerances of manufactured submersible autonomous vehicles and robots. The building will be built on stilts to showcase sustainable designs for sea-level rise while also utilizing the open space below the building to provide storage space for the autonomous vehicle bodies that do not require air-conditioned, dry space. As an R1 institution, FIU is willing to consider novel construction techniques that have the potential to yield cost savings or other benefits to the project. Examples include but are neither required nor limited to modular construction, 3D concrete printing, hybrid systems (concrete frame with 3D-printed components), self-healing concrete, photocatalytic coatings, or graphene-enhanced composites. Any proposed innovative technique would need to fit within the established construction budget of $10,000,386. The intent is to achieve smarter, safer, and more sustainable buildings through technology integration, material innovation, and adaptive design strategies.
