The Tampa Tribune reports that Florida Polytechnic University launched with a bang on Saturday, with a pyrotechnics display highlighting the iconic Innovation, Science and Technology Building as dignitaries and the general public enjoyed the grand opening of the state’s 12th public university.
Poly leadership was joined by Gov. Rick Scott; renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, who designed the IST building; former state Sen. JD Alexander, who muscled the bill creating the school through the state Legislature; and others.
The inaugural class of 500 students for Florida Polytechnic University starts Aug. 25, a little more than two years after Alexander’s legislation turned a cow pasture at Interstate 4 and the eastern Polk Parkway into the state’s first center for science, technology, engineering and math.
