UF establishes the Ballard House, a new Gator home steps from the U.S. Capitol

The University of Florida will establish a permanent home in Washington, D.C., steps from the U.S. Capitol, giving Gator students, faculty and university leaders a place of their own in the city where national policy is made.

The property, to be known as the Ballard House, is a gift from Brian and Kathryn Ballard valued at $4.25 million. It will serve as UF’s front door in the nation’s capital: a place where students can learn and grow through academic programs and professional development, where faculty can share their research with Congress and federal agencies, and where the university can convene leaders from government, public service and the private sector.

“The nation’s great public universities have a real home in Washington, and now the University of Florida will too,” said UF President Stuart R. Bell. “This new presence opens important opportunities for our university and for generations of Gators. It will bring our students and faculty closer to the institutions and people shaping our country and create new opportunities to learn, connect and contribute. We are grateful to the Ballards for making this possible and for Brian’s enduring connection to the University of Florida.”

The Ballard House will connect UF’s academic strengths with the nation’s capital, offering opportunities for students to experience policymaking firsthand and deepen their understanding of American government, institutions and civic life. It also will create a new avenue for UF faculty and university representatives to build relationships and engage with national figures and organizations.

For UF researchers, the Ballard House will provide a venue to brief policymakers and federal partners on discoveries in fields from artificial intelligence to agriculture and health care. The house will host programming that brings students together with policymakers, including speaker series, policy roundtables and civic education programs. It will also be a gathering place for Gator alumni who live and work in the Washington region, strengthening the network that connects today’s students with those already leading in public life.

“Students can read about Congress, the Supreme Court and the institutions of American government in a classroom, but there is no substitute for really being there,” said Chuck Clemons, UF’s vice president for government and community relations and former member of the Florida House of Representatives. “The Ballard House will help bring Washington to life for our community and provide our students with experiences that can bolster their education, their careers and their commitment to public service.”

Brian Ballard is a double Gator, earning both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a law degree from UF, as well as a member of the UF Hall of Fame. He went on to serve as chief of staff for Florida Gov. Bob Martinez before founding the lobbying firm Ballard Partners, one of the most influential lobbying firms in the world with offices in Florida, Washington, D.C., and other U.S. and international locations. His wife, Kathryn, is an alumna of Florida State University. She currently serves as a member of the FSU Board of Trustees. The Ballards were selected by three Florida governors to co-chair their gubernatorial inaugurations.

“The University of Florida has shaped so much of who I am today, and it is a privilege to give back to a place that has given me so much,” Brian Ballard said. “I’m especially proud to help strengthen UF’s presence in Washington, D.C., and to create opportunities for students, faculty, university leaders and the broader Gator Nation to engage, connect and make an impact in our nation’s capital.