UVI RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY PARK
ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
PROJECT STATUS | COMPLETED
PROJECT OVERVIEW
In its early planning stages, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Research and Technology Park (RTP) was envisioned on a 204.5-acre off-campus property near the airport, the University campus, and Global Crossing’s facilities on St. Croix. Utilities would extend from Route 64, with the critical connection being a fiber optic link to the Global Crossing facility along Centerline Road. The site comprised two main parcels: over 110 acres of flat, well-drained farmland with direct access to Route 64 (Parcel 1-A), and 93 acres of ridge and gently sloping terrain overlooking the Hovensa and Alumina sites (Parcel 12). Additional access was possible from Queen Mary Highway to the north and Melvin Evans Highway to the south.
SITE CONCEPT
A tree-lined gut (intermittent stream) crossed the farmland, leaving a large contiguous buildable area between Route 64 and the gut. Along Route 64, historic ruins offered opportunities for reuse or reinterpretation. Over time, two main entrances with a one-way exit were planned for the UVI/RTP, along with a service access for the Web Hosting Facility and V-Suites Commerce building at the northern edge of Parcel 1-A. A shaded pedestrian path was also proposed to connect the RTP to the UVI campus through Department of Agriculture land on Parcel 1-B, creating a vital physical link between the two.
SITE DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES
The site consisted of relatively flat, well-drained pastureland. While the client considered subdividing much of the land around the RTP core for corporate parcels, we recommended concentrating development into a dense, pedestrian-friendly campus that preserved surrounding prime agricultural land. A 100-foot greenbelt was proposed along both sides of the gut for passive recreation and water conservation. Local tree-farm agribusinesses would sustain a productive landscape by supplying plants for sale and urban reforestation, reinforcing UVI’s agricultural and forestry research traditions. To further reduce environmental impact, paved areas would be minimized through permeable surfaces and natural paving materials in place of asphalt.
ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT
The UVI/RTP buildings were planned around a central campus spine, creating a generous landscaped open space with controlled entry points for safety while reducing infrastructure costs. Openings between buildings preserved views of meadows, tree farms, ridges, and agricultural landscapes. The architectural character was envisioned to reference agricultural factories and traditional farms of the territory, interpreted in a contemporary way through design and materials. Ultimately, the project was not pursued on this off-campus site, and feasibility studies shifted to locating the RTP within the University campus.
