Moffitt Cancer Center is embarking on its largest expansion to date with the creation of Speros FL, a 775-acre global innovation center in Pasco County. Derived from the Latin word sperare, meaning “to hope,” the campus reflects Moffitt’s mission to expand access to care and advance the fight against cancer through research and treatment.
After many months of presentations, interviews, and competitive bidding, APG was selected in January 2024 as a design-assist partner on the 250,000-square-foot Discovery & Innovation Center. This facility is one of the first large projects on the Speros FL campus, featuring wet and dry labs, office areas, and collaborative spaces in fields such as bioengineering, drug discovery, and molecular oncology.
Being engaged early in the construction process allowed us to collaborate closely with the Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, owner representatives, and the design team. We worked through countless iterations of design documents and cost alternate requests to drive value on the project and provide critical input that drove real-time decision making, all while drawings were still being developed. This innovative approach enabled early procurement of major long-lead equipment, such as generators and switchboards, keeping the project on schedule and ensuring the facility can begin its vital work without delay.
A critical component of our success has been our unique ability to self-perform major systems in-house. Our BIM/VDC, electrical, life safety, technology, and security teams are all playing key roles on the project by powering the building, protecting staff, enabling advanced connectivity, and ensuring seamless integration across highly complex research environments.
Since principal construction began, Project Superintendent DJ Hall and Senior Project Manager Austin Buxton have guided our team and led a peak workforce of 65 APG technicians, coordinating seamlessly with the superintendents and project managers of our low voltage groups. Their leadership has been instrumental in delivering an industry-best installation of highly complex lab environments, many of which rival our most sophisticated healthcare projects.
As Speros FL continues to rise, our role is central to shaping a campus where treatment, research, and hope converge. It is an incredible honor to contribute to a project that will make a lasting impact on patients and the future of cancer care. We look forward to celebrating its completion next year!