University of Tampa

The University of Tampa is a medium-sized private university located on Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa, Florida. Boasting more than 200 areas of study, UT houses approximately 8,000 students from all across the world and the United States and has been featured as among the best ranked universities by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and The Princeton Review. 

The University of Tampa had recently acquired property from the long-time holders, the Agliano family. In order to commemorate the acquisition and to honor the family for the property, UT needed a contractor to make a couple statement pieces for its multi-acre park. The park would include five fountains, an outdoor fireplace, a small stage area for entertainment, multi-color lighting, and seating.

Site Essentials accepted the challenge. The University of Tampa already had a vision in mind, and thanks to Site Essentials’ creative design and manufacturing capabilities, it was able to fulfill the universities ideas.

One of the pieces, to be mounted above the fire place, was to feature the university’s iconic Spartan logo. Site Essentials chose to go with a waterjet-cut round aluminum logo medallion in order to emphasize a dimensional look. The second project was to commemorate the Agliano’s contribution to the university, a piece that would be placed into the ground in the park. This unit would be a custom sized round black granite medallion, sandblasted for the text to retain its natural polished granite appearance.

The end result allowed for the University of Tampa to pull together its campus-wide aesthetic while still paying homage to its Agliano neighbors’ transfer of property.