St. Thomas University Campus Development

St. Thomas University is evaluating the potential long-term development of approximately 28 acres of its main campus, representing one of the last remaining undeveloped parcels adjacent to the Palmetto Expressway in Miami Gardens, Florida, while also considering opportunities for additional redevelopment of other areas of its existing campus.

Located between NW 32nd Avenue and NW 37th Avenue, the campus development site lies within a federally designated Opportunity Zone. STU is exploring development approaches that would thoughtfully integrate the site into the broader campus and future development visions as well as the surrounding community while supporting institutional growth and sustainability.

Aerial view of St. Thomas University campus with dashed red and yellow boundary lines highlighting surrounding land and additional campus development opportunities. Labels show nearby roadways and traffic counts for the Palmetto Expressway, NW 37th Avenue, and NW 32nd Avenue.

While the University is a private sector entity with a 501(c)(3) structure, it is seeking to capitalize on the proliferation of public-private partnership (P3) projects that are dramatically impacting the higher education sector.

Consistent with its Catholic mission and core values, St. Thomas University places a strong emphasis on collaboration and engagement with the surrounding community. The University recognizes that any future development of the site should enhance the campus environment for students, faculty, and staff, while also contributing positively to neighboring areas and the City of Miami Gardens more broadly.

Aerial perspective of St. Thomas University and the surrounding area, with a red dashed outline marking a development parcel along the Palmetto Expressway between NW 32nd Avenue and NW 37th Avenue. A red arrow labeled “Entrance” points to an access point near NW 37th Avenue.
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Pre-submittal Conference Session
June 15th, 2026 at 1PM

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Procurement Overview

Interested parties are encouraged to review the Master Developer Request for Qualifications and Statements of Interest document, which includes required project forms for completion and instructions for proposers’ submission.

The University is conducting a competitive, two-step solicitation process designed to identify qualified development partners through a structured and transparent evaluation. Prior to the submission of Statements of Qualifications, the University may, at its discretion, offer nonmandatory pre-submittal engagement opportunities, including a pre-submittal conference, site tour, and limited, structured one-on-one meetings, to introduce the opportunity and clarify the solicitation process.

Step 1 of the process consists of a qualifications-based review of Statements of Qualifications and Interest to assess experience, team capacity, and financial strength. Following evaluation and shortlisting, the University may invite selected Proposers to participate in Step 2, a Request for Proposals, which would involve the submission of more detailed development concepts and commercial information.

Architectural rendering of new STU student housing along a campus roadway, with modern white buildings, wood accent panels, palm trees, sidewalks, and landscaped green spaces.
Architectural rendering of new STU student housing along a campus roadway, with modern white buildings, wood accent panels, palm trees, sidewalks, and landscaped green spaces.
Architectural rendering of the new STU student center, featuring a curved glass exterior, landscaped entrance, palm trees, pedestrian walkways, and nearby administration buildings.
Architectural rendering of the new STU student center, featuring a curved glass exterior, landscaped entrance, palm trees, pedestrian walkways, and nearby administration buildings.
Aerial architectural rendering of a new STU science center complex with curved modern buildings, glass facades, landscaped walkways, gardens, and surrounding campus roads.
Aerial architectural rendering of a new STU science center complex with curved modern buildings, glass facades, landscaped walkways, gardens, and surrounding campus roads.
Architectural rendering of a new STU campus plaza with outdoor seating, dining tables, landscaped grass areas, palm trees, water features, and modern buildings lining the walkway.
Architectural rendering of a new STU campus plaza with outdoor seating, dining tables, landscaped grass areas, palm trees, water features, and modern buildings lining the walkway.
Architectural rendering of a broad pedestrian plaza on the STU campus, with long reflecting pools, palm trees, students walking, and modern academic buildings on both sides.
Architectural rendering of a broad pedestrian plaza on the STU campus, with long reflecting pools, palm trees, students walking, and modern academic buildings on both sides.
Architectural rendering of a new glass-fronted campus building with a large angled canopy, landscaped sidewalks, palm trees, and nearby modern buildings along a roadway.
Architectural rendering of a new glass-fronted campus building with a large angled canopy, landscaped sidewalks, palm trees, and nearby modern buildings along a roadway.
Aerial architectural rendering of the planned STU campus expansion, showing new academic buildings, courtyards, walkways, athletic fields, ponds, and landscaped green spaces.
Aerial architectural rendering of the planned STU campus expansion, showing new academic buildings, courtyards, walkways, athletic fields, ponds, and landscaped green spaces.
Architectural rendering of a new STU academic tower overlooking a landscaped pond, with palm trees, native plants, walkways, and modern campus buildings surrounding the water.
Architectural rendering of a new STU academic tower overlooking a landscaped pond, with palm trees, native plants, walkways, and modern campus buildings surrounding the water.

The above renderings are conceptual in nature and are intended solely to illustrate a potential vision for the site. They are provided to inspire ideas and do not constitute design requirements or limitations on future development.

Communications Requirements

To ensure fairness, transparency, and integrity in the solicitation process, a “cone of silence” shall be in effect with respect to this RFQ. The cone of silence shall commence upon issuance of this RFQ and shall remain in effect until the University announces its intent to proceed to Step 2 of the solicitation process or otherwise terminates the procurement.

During the Cone of Silence period, Proposers and their representatives shall not communicate regarding the RFQ or the development opportunity with any member of the University’s Board of Trustees, officers, employees, selection committee members, or advisors, except as expressly permitted by the RFQ.

All questions regarding the RFQ shall be submitted only to the University’s designated point of contact, Craig Henderson, at [email protected], and no other communications regarding the RFQ are permitted except as expressly authorized.

Any violation of the cone of silence may, in the University’s sole discretion, be grounds for disqualification from the solicitation process.

Pre-submittal Conference and Site Tour

The University will conduct a nonmandatory pre-submittal conference, which may be followed by an optional site tour of the development site for which advance registration will be required. The purpose of the pre-submittal conference and site tour is to introduce the development opportunity, outline the solicitation process, and provide general information regarding the development site. Any information of general applicability presented during the pre-submittal conference or site tour will be documented and made available to all Proposers in accordance with the RFQ.

Pre-submittal One-on-One Meetings

During a limited pre-submittal period, the University may, at its discretion, offer structured one-on-one meetings with interested proposers. Any proposer seeking a one-on-one meeting must submit a written request in accordance with the procedures and timeframe established by the University.

If offered, one-on-one meetings will be scheduled during a defined period and conducted using a standardized format. Each participating proposer will be allocated the same amount of meeting time. The purpose of the meetings is limited to clarification of the RFQ, discussion of the proposer’s qualifications and experience, and high-level conceptual discussion of the opportunity. One-on-one meetings are not intended to solicit development proposals, pricing, or binding commitments. The University is not obligated to grant one-on-one meetings.

Campus site plan of St. Thomas University showing academic buildings, athletic fields, tennis courts, parking lots, and internal roads. A red and blue outlined area highlights the wooded northern portion of the property, including overflow parking and parcels near NW 32nd Avenue and the entrance on NW 37th Avenue.
Campus site plan of St. Thomas University showing academic buildings, athletic fields, tennis courts, parking lots, and internal roads. A red and blue outlined area highlights the wooded northern portion of the property, including overflow parking and parcels near NW 32nd Avenue and the entrance on NW 37th Avenue.
Site plan rendering of the proposed STU campus expansion, showing labeled locations for the public plaza, hotel, student housing, university center, ice rink, athletic park, School of Nursing and Science, student plaza, academic tower, renovated areas, workforce housing, and parking garage.
Color-coded aerial site map of the STU campus showing proposed development zones, including mixed use, academic expansion, academic renovation, workforce housing, academic reconstruction, and athletics expansion areas near the Palmetto Expressway.

Schedule of Events

RFQ Advertisement: May 27, 2026
Non-mandatory Pre-submittal Conference: June 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM EST
Optional Site Tour: June 15, 2026 (immediately following the Pre‑Submittal Conference)
Discretionary Pre-submittal One-on-One Meetings: Late June through Early July 2026
RFQ Response Deadline (SOQs Due): August 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST
Evaluation of SOQs: Mid–Late August 2026
Proposer Interviews / Presentations (if conducted): Late August 2026
Selection Committee Shortlisting Meeting: Early September 2026

RSVP – Pre-submittal Conference Session

Date: June 15th, 2026
Location: Gus Machado Auditorium
Time: 1:00PM

RSVP – Pre-submittal Conference Session

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