Dynamic Displays of Information: A Showcase of Knowledge
**Malachowsky Hall: A Hub for AI, Computing, and Data Science**
The University of Florida’s Malachowsky Hall for Data Science & Information Technology is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing research and education in artificial intelligence (AI), computing, and data science. Located in Gainesville, Florida, the seven-story building is home to faculty and students from various departments, including the College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, Department of Computer Information & Information Science & Engineering, Department of Electrical & Computing Engineering, the Florida Institute for Cybersecurity Research, the Florida Semiconductor Institute, and the Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World.
**Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Innovation Spaces**
Malachowsky Hall consolidates departments from different colleges into a single facility, fostering collaboration across traditionally separate fields. The building's design, with a central atrium known as the "vertical commons," encourages transparency and spontaneous collaboration, essential for cutting-edge research in rapidly evolving fields like AI and data science. The facility includes specialized maker spaces dedicated to robotics, virtual reality, and the Internet of Things (IoT)—areas closely linked to AI and data science applications.
**State-of-the-Art Infrastructure**
The building's infrastructure is tailored to adapt as technologies and academic needs change. It features flexible classrooms, research labs, faculty offices, and open student workspaces, all engineered to be adaptable. Malachowsky Hall is also LEED Platinum-certified and incorporates advanced architectural features, such as 1,500 custom metal panels with trapezoidal electrochromic glass, which optimize natural light and energy efficiency.
**AI Lab, VR/Robotics Lab, and IoT Lab**
Among the key spaces in Malachowsky Hall are the AI Lab, IOT Lab, and VR/Robotics Lab, each featuring large Absen video displays for data visualization. The Absen video displays in the labs were custom designed by the manufacturer in collaboration with UF’s in-house AV team and integrated by MDM Commercial. The Absen Acclaim A2712 PRO LED video display in the labs is noted for its rugged construction that can withstand wear and tear.
The VR/Robotics Lab is primarily used for robotics projects, where students run programs and simulations off-site and then come to the lab to monitor how their robots perform in a physical environment. One project in the IoT Lab, led by Bianca Burini, is using IoT technology to track mosquito colonies in the interest of relocating them to reduce vector-borne diseases. The project uses infrared imaging and records the sound of mosquito wing beats, and runs a machine learning algorithm to detect the number, location, age, and gender of mosquitoes.
**Educational Mission**
By housing diverse academic programs and research initiatives under one roof, Malachowsky Hall aims to prepare students for careers in AI, computing, and data science by exposing them to real-world, cross-disciplinary challenges and collaborative problem-solving. The facility’s design and resources are intended to lower barriers between disciplines, making it easier for ideas to flow and for new research directions to emerge.
In the AI Lab, assistant professor Kiley Graim uses the facility for computational genomics, designing AI methods to analyze patterns across an individual’s genome and make predictions about disease progression and drug response. The AI Lab's video display has a curved design, providing an immersive experience for viewers close to the display. The video processor used in all three labs is Datapath, and a Crestron DM-NVX AV-over-IP-based system provides video distribution, enabling the same content to be shared across all three labs. The Absen video displays in the labs incorporate Integrated Matrix Device (IMD) 4-in-1 technology, enhancing mounted strength and lowering the risk of LED damage.
Malachowsky Hall is more than a building—it is a strategic investment by the University of Florida to position itself at the forefront of AI, computing, and data science education and research. By breaking down silos between disciplines and providing cutting-edge resources, it aims to accelerate discovery, nurture the next generation of technologists, and address complex societal challenges through interdisciplinary innovation.
- The AI Lab in Malachowsky Hall, a hub for data science and computing, is used by assistant professor Kiley Graim for computational genomics, where AI methods analyze patterns in an individual's genome to predict disease progression and drug response.
- The VR/Robotics Lab, also found in Malachowsky Hall, is used for robotics projects, such as students running programs and simulations off-site before coming to the lab to monitor how their robots perform in a physical environment.
- Malachowsky Hall, dedicated to artificial intelligence, computing, and data science, aims to prepare students for their careers by exposing them to real-world, cross-disciplinary challenges, fostering lifelong learning, and education and self-development.
