Twenty years ago, Thomas P. Murphy Jr., a powerhouse in the Florida construction industry, saw a need to prepare the next generation of builders with hands-on training and proficiency with cutting-edge technology. He approached the University of Miami to create a construction management track and pushed this idea for years until it became a reality.
Recently, the University recognized Murphy for his vision by naming the Murphy Construction Management Program in his honor.
The naming also celebrates Murphy’s latest gift to the University, which supports scholarships and project-based learning for construction management students.
Murphy’s gift is part of the University of Miami’s Ever Brighter: The Campaign for Our Next Century. The most ambitious in the University’s history, the campaign is set to conclude in 2025, when the University will celebrate its centennial.
It was at the University of Miami in 1968 that Murphy launched his career in construction. As a 19-year-old student, he became the youngest licensed contractor in Florida’s history. At the age of 20, he started his construction company.
Years later, he returned to campus as a successful businessman—as the founder, chairman, and CEO of Coastal Construction, an award-winning company with a distinguished roster of clients and many high-profile projects across Florida.
In 2014 Murphy made the naming gift, in honor of his father, to create the award-winning Thomas P. Murphy Design Studio Building, a state-of-the-art building at the School of Architecture designed by Arquitectonica and built by Coastal Construction. Upon its debut, the design studio received multiple awards, including the 2018 Building of the Year from World-Architects.
“It is an honor to continue supporting the University of Miami School of Architecture and now the construction management program,” Murphy said. “Supporting these bright young minds, who will become the next generation of builders, is very important.”
The gift will also help build a strong pipeline of talent in Miami.
“Education has the power to transform lives, and we believe that every talented individual deserves equal access to educational opportunities,” said Rodolphe el-Khoury, dean of the School of Architecture. “With this endowment, we are investing in the potential of future construction management students, enabling them to pursue their dreams and make a lasting impact on the industry.”
The gift furthers Murphy’s impressive philanthropic legacy and empowers students to follow their dreams.
