Cincinnati’s Innovation District celebrated a huge milestone on Tuesday, April 13, with the topping out ceremony of the Digital Futures Complex.
Previously known as Uptown Gateway, the new $200 million mixed-use project will be home to University of Cincinnati’s Interdisciplinary Digital Futures Institute and will offer 189,000 square feet of space for interdisciplinary research when it opens in the summer of 2022.
The primary focus of Digital Futures Institute’s research includes artificial intelligence, sensors and informatics, among many others. It brings in the right combination of innovation and research focused on addressing industry challenges and opportunities.
While many things were put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, construction continued throughout 2020. UC President Neville Pinto praised the construction crew for their work during the pandemic.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone for the Digital Futures Complex. We are one step closer towards creating a world-class innovation district in Cincinnati,” said Beth Robinson, president and CEO of Uptown Consortium Inc. “A year ago, everything changed, it is nice to be back, safely and in-person, to celebrate with fellow Uptown businesses and leaders.”
A topping-out ceremony celebrates when the last beam is placed during the construction of a new building. Members of the develop-ment and construction team as well as university officials signed a commemorative beam which was set in place on the top of structure, along with an evergreen and an American flag. The tree is a symbol of growth and safety for the project.
Construction of the Digital Futures Complex began in 2019 and is being developed by Terrex Development & Construction and Messer Construction. The project is currently planned to open during the summer of 2022. UC has leased the entire first building. The second multi-story office and research building will accommodate companies seeking to create dynamic connections between UC’s renowned researchers and highly skilled students.
Read more about the ceremony and the project here.