UCF Libraries has officially opened the Digital Exploration Center (DEC), a 7,000-square-foot experiential hub designed to empower Knights to create innovative digital projects through experimentation and cutting-edge technology.
Join UCF Libraries on Thursday, Feb. 26, for the Establishing a Digital Presence event (registration required) in the Digital Exploration Center.
Located on the fourth floor of the John C. Hitt Library, the DEC serves as a premier space for immersive technologies, digital scholarship and creative production at UCF, Florida’s Technological University. The DEC is the latest enhancement to the main campus library, which is serving more students, faculty and staff than ever.
“The 80% growth in library usage we have seen [since 2019] reflects the success of our strategic investments in technology, learning spaces and expert support,” UCF Library Dean Beau Case says. “It affirms that when we innovate with purpose, our community responds.”
What the Digital Exploration Center Offers
The DEC contains a comprehensive suite of resources including immersive technologies, a fully equipped podcast studio, production workshops, collaboration spaces and high-performance computing. These resources are available to the full spectrum of the UCF community — from undergraduates creating their first podcast to faculty developing complex, data-driven research projects.
A centerpiece of the DEC is the Immersion Studio, that includes a three wall, 270-degree projection experience with surround sound, and touch-enabled walls that allow users to interact with projected content, transporting people anywhere in the world, through time and space, all without ever leaving campus.
“The Digital Exploration Center represents UCF Libraries’ continued commitment to innovation, student success and academic excellence, creating a dynamic environment where technology, creativity and expertise converge,” Case says.
Supporting the Campus Community’s Creative and Scholarly Works
Through workshops, consultations and collaborative opportunities, UCF Libraries staff at the center provides access to the tools and guidance needed to bring research, podcast an other creative ideas to life.
“This is a space [that] furthers the conversation about what ‘digital’ means at UCF and expands the role of the library as a genuine partner in research and education,” says Rachel Vacek, associate dean for digital strategies, impact and visibility at UCF Libraries. “Yes, we have cutting-edge technology, but what we really have is possibility — a team of experts ready to consult, collaborate and help turn ideas into impactful digital scholarship.”
The DEC builds upon the success of earlier digital initiatives that were housed on the second floor of the library, including the former Hitt Maker Podcast Studio, which opened in 2024 thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the late UCF President Emeritus John C. Hitt and his family. Alongside the podcast studio, the former second-floor production studio for video and photography at the library helped amplify voices across campus. Those early successes laid the foundation for the expanded vision now realized in the DEC, Case says.
For more information about the Digital Exploration Center, visit library.ucf.edu/about/departments/digital-scholarship/dec. Join UCF Libraries on Thursday, Feb. 26, for the Establishing a Digital Presence event (registration required) in the Digital Exploration Center.
