Institutions with siloed research disciplines in 2022 are suffering a distinct competitive disadvantage when it comes to discovery, student and faculty recruitment and retention, and industry partnership opportunities; it’s time to evolve! Mary Jo Spector illustrates what it takes to transition legacy research cultures to support leading-edge interdisciplinary initiatives, including the creation of “catalyst” collaborative research environments with open, flexible, and adaptable labs, shared core facilities, adaptable offices, new non-departmental space management structures, and other proven features adapted and contextualized from peer research organizations. She sets out key decisions and investments in FSU’s new Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building that ensure research facility/science program relevancy and adaptability for 20 years and beyond.