Lake Nona is a 7,000 acre master planned community within the city limits of Orlando. It is best described as a community that is sprinkled with pristine lakes, lush tropical landscapes, protected wild life, conserved park areas with recreational facilities, and numerous connecting bike and walking trails throughout the various diverse types of housing options.
Approximately 600 acres of this planned community is best known as Medical City. The following is a current synopsis of the development underway:
Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research, a 175,000 square foot building which opened in mid 2009 is where researchers focus on diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer and drug discoveries. It is one of only four National Institute of Health centers for chemical biology and drug discoveries in the nation.
Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center, scheduled to open 2012 will have approximately 1.2 million square feet and will serve more that 400,000 veterans with 134 hospital beds, 120 community living center beds, an outpatient clinic and a 60 bed residential rehabilitation program.
University of Central Florida Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona is home to the UCF College of Medicine, and its Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. Opened in 2009, the 198,000 square-foot Burnett Biomedical Sciences building is five stories of state-of-the-art equipment and space for biomedical researchers. Also housing a major transgenic animal facility and three Biosafety Level Three laboratories, the facility is an ideal environment for students interested in advancing medical research. Opened in 2010, the four-story College of Medicine is 168,000 square feet of innovation and cutting-edge technology. Home to the Health Sciences Library, Clinical Skills Center, Simulation Resource Center, the complex provides an ideal environment for students.
M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Institute will utilize the 5th floor of the College of Medicine’s Biomedical Sciences Research Building while they develop plans for their research facility.
Nemours Children’s Hospital is a 630,000 square feet hospital scheduled to open in 2012 which will have 95 beds, an outpatient specialty clinic, an emergency department as well as an education and research centers.
University of Florida Academic and Research planned 100,000 square feet center will be located next to the Sanford-Burnham. The center is planned for a comprehensive drug development space including a College of Pharmacy and biomedical research laboratories.
Additional developments are planned such as a one-million square foot Town Center which will have various retails establishments to include shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.
