FSU InSPIRE and Strata-G Announce Infrastructure Collaboration
Florida State University’s Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education (InSPIRE) and Strata-G, an environmental, engineering and energy consulting firm, have aligned to optimize facility design for the InSPIRE initiative. Based in Panama City, the institute will serve as a dynamic ecosystem of advanced manufacturing, supersonic and hypersonic aero propulsion testing and workforce training. Strata-G will provide project management responsibilities while serving as liaison between FSU and key stakeholders for this stage of the InSPIRE buildup.
Strata-G’s Elliott Barnett is currently overseeing infrastructure developments that will support pre-specified equipment installation as well as facilitating equipment functionality testing. “We know it’s critical to manage the processes required for the design, construction, and soft handover of the buildings,” he said. “This facility will be vital to the mission of InSPIRE, particularly in attracting advanced manufacturing and entrepreneurial companies to our region which should generate high tech, higher paying jobs for our local communities.”
Relationship Aims to Optimize and Accelerate the Build-out of InSPIRE’s Advanced Facilities
With a broad mission focused on driving economic growth throughout Northwest Florida by cultivating strategic academic, industry, military, and business partnerships, the FSU InSPIRE facility will be a center for innovation, technological advancements, and educational excellence.
“Advanced manufacturing is crucial to our vision of moving use-inspired research from idea through prototype, testing, evaluation, and delivery all under one roof. Add to that our aero-testing capacity and we will be able to drive aerospace technology and products for commercial and defense applications in a very efficient and timely manner with a completely centralized lifecycle,” said InSPIRE Executive Director, Farrukh Alvi, PhD. “We are purposefully planning a very dynamic facility that will also educate the talent that is needed in our region—Northwest Florida. We know Strata-G will be an energetic partner in our mission to build a one-of-a kind center that supports all of that and more: a place that will be a regional and national resource.”
Strata-G offers a full range of infrastructure management/operations, construction/project management, regulatory compliance, safety/health, and business services to its clients. Its office in the Panhandle launched in January 2024 with plans to expand geographically, grow its customer base and solidify strategic partnerships such as the one with FSU InSPIRE.
For over 35 years, Barnett has managed teams that execute complex projects across the U.S. Department of Energy complex. As an engineering and project management expert, he’s handled a variety of energy, facility, and environmental projects. Growing up as a Seminole fan, his father earned his PhD from FSU.