Known as the EpiCenter and the crown jewel of St. Petersburg College, FleischmanGarcia designed a 131,000 sq. ft. joint-use facility shared by both St. Petersburg College and Pinellas County. The EpiCenter is a full-service facility designed as a "one-stop center" to assist current businesses and industries in maximizing their potential, as well as assisting Pinellas County in attracting new business to the area. The facility provides office and meeting areas for St. Petersburg College staff, and the staff of four Pinellas County Government departments. Classroom and lab spaces were designed to support creative business planning and problem solving. The Cyber Café, the EpiCenter's in-house food service facility, attracts customers with wireless internet connection and plasma screen televisions.
Housed in an extensively renovated two-story light manufacturing building in the Rubin Icot Center located in central Pinellas County, the existing structure consists of tilt-up concrete walls with a steel-framed roof structure. A steel-supported concrete deck second floor was fitted into the existing shell, which effectively doubles the square footage. Access to the second floor is provided by three new external stair towers and internal elevators. The building is fully fire protected and has new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
