International architect Santiago Calatrava today presented his architectural vision for the University of South Florida Polytechnic, a long-term master plan for a spectacular series of new buildings.

"I see the university as a city, a science city," Calatrava told the USF system Board of Trustees, as he discussed what he called the "essence" of the project.

For the Board members, Calatrava did a free-hand sketch of the site as a shell. He then described a central soft line of buildings through the shell, like "jewels." The buildings follow a water line through the axis.

As his thinking developed, he said, he saw the shell as split in half, with symmetrical designs on both sides of the axis of water.

Instead of presenting just the first building, Calatrava unfolded an entire plan for the institution, which supports the polytechnic vision of an institution centered on science and mathematics to build innovation in the state.

Because the full design is obvious in the proposed site layout, the first phase of construction already creates a campus, he said.

"Santiago Calatrava gave us a vision of a fully realized institution," said Judy Genshaft, president of the USF system. "It will be one of the most spectacular architectural statements in the state. What he did today is give us a look at the scale and tone of the full vision."

The next step is to focus on the first building, said Marshall Goodman, VP and CEO of USF Polytechnic.

"We have a generous gift of land on I-4 and the Polk Parkway," said Goodman. "And with support from the USF system, we have funding from the Florida Legislature to move ahead with construction. Within the next several months, Dr. Calatrava will present the university with his plans for the first building. That objective will be our practical focus in the short run.

"This iconic building will be a symbol of a new Polk County and of a 21st century American university. In polytechnic, we have a unique model of education and with Calatrava, we will have a unique symbol that represents that spirit."

The budget for the first building is $65 million, funded by a combination of PECO allocations, gifts, and state match. The speed of construction depends on funding.

Santiago Calatrava is an award-winning architect, sculptor and structural engineer with offices in his hometown of Valencia, Spain; Zurich, Switzerland; and New York. Since completing his first commission for the design and construction of Zurich's Stadelhofen Railway Station in 1983, Calatrava has received acclaim for his projects, including the Montjuic Communications Tower in Barcelona, Spain; the Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden; the Athens Olympic Sports Center in Athens, Greece; and the Quadracci Pavilion of the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wis., his first project in the United States. Calatrava was commissioned to design the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub for Lower Manhattan in late 2003 and has numerous projects in progress throughout cities worldwide.