Construction begins for USF Health facilities in downtown Tampa

University of South Florida presence will soon grow larger in downtown Tampa.

Construction on the new Morsani College of Medicine and USF Health Heart Institute began on Wednesday.

It will more specifically be joining the new Water Street Tampa neighborhood, and allows USF Health to be in closer proximity to Tampa General Hospital, which is its primary teaching and clinical affiliate.

The building is scheduled to open in late 2019, and is expected to cost at least $153 million. The state of Florida will provide $112 million, and the remainder will be funded by USF using resources, such as private donations.