Building the Modern Research Data Platform: UCF's Microsoft Fabric Journey with MCG
August 10, 2026
Universities generate enormous amounts of research data but turning that information into meaningful insights requires more than dashboards. It requires an architecture that balances enterprise governance with departmental flexibility, modern analytics with existing investments, and today’s reporting needs with tomorrow’s AI capabilities.
That’s exactly the challenge the University of Central Florida (UCF) set out to solve.
Midtown Consulting Group (MCG), a Microsoft partner specializing in Azure, Microsoft Fabric, and higher education analytics, recently completed the implementation of UCF’s new Research Data Warehouse (RDW), providing the university with a modern analytics foundation built for researchers, administrators, and future innovation.
Modernizing an Aging Research Reporting Environment
UCF’s previous research reporting environment had reached the end of its lifecycle.
Legacy reporting tools limited visualization capabilities and relied heavily on detailed line-item reports, making it difficult for researchers and administrators to quickly understand research activity, funding, compliance, and operational performance. The university wanted to replace outdated technology with an environment that delivered modern analytics while supporting future growth.
Rather than replacing everything with an isolated departmental solution, UCF wanted to build upon its existing Azure investment while allowing the Office of Research to manage its own data within an enterprise-governed environment.
That vision naturally aligned with Microsoft Fabric.
Why Microsoft Fabric?
Microsoft Fabric gave UCF the ability to maintain enterprise governance while giving the Office of Research ownership of its own data, analytics, and reporting environment.
Instead of creating another isolated reporting system, Fabric enabled the research organization to leverage enterprise data already available within Azure while maintaining ownership of its own research-specific data, models, and reporting assets. It also provided a practical migration path from legacy SQL Server reporting into a modern Fabric and Power BI environment.
This is where MCG’s expertise became critical.
Technology alone doesn’t solve enterprise analytics challenges. Success depends on designing an architecture that fits the institution, not forcing the institution to adapt to the technology.
Designing an Enterprise-Ready Fabric Architecture
MCG was selected through a competitive procurement process by delivering an approach that aligned closely with UCF’s technical requirements, existing Azure investment, and long-term roadmap. Rather than introducing additional third-party platforms, MCG designed a Microsoft-centric solution that integrated naturally with the university’s existing environment while providing flexibility for future expansion.
The engagement included:
One of the most significant outcomes was establishing an architectural pattern that future departments across the university can adopt as they modernize their own analytics environments.
More than a Migration
This project wasn’t simply about moving reports into a new platform.
MCG worked with UCF to redesign how research data flows across the organization.
The new environment combines enterprise data with departmental research systems inside Microsoft Fabric using a modern Lakehouse architecture, curated semantic models, and governed reporting workflows. Existing code and reporting assets were migrated wherever practical, reducing implementation time while improving consistency and maintainability.
The result is a reporting platform designed not only for today’s operational needs, but also for future analytics and AI initiatives.
A Foundation for Future Innovation
Beyond replacing legacy technology, the project gives UCF a repeatable model for expanding Microsoft Fabric across additional departments.
The university now has a more reliable analytics environment, standardized data models, improved governance practices, and a modern reporting experience that provides researchers and administrators with faster access to meaningful information. The implementation also established the data and technical foundation for future AI capabilities, including conversational data experiences and additional advanced analytics initiatives.
Higher Education Expertise That Extends Beyond Technology
Implementing Microsoft Fabric successfully requires more than platform knowledge.
Higher education institutions operate with complex governance structures, diverse departmental systems, research compliance requirements, and enterprise data environments that must work together seamlessly.
MCG brings experience across both higher education and Microsoft technologies, helping institutions modernize existing investments rather than replacing them. Whether integrating Azure with Microsoft Fabric, designing enterprise data architectures, or building governed analytics environments, MCG focuses on solutions that fit each institution’s operational and strategic goals.
As universities continue investing in AI, advanced analytics, and connected data ecosystems, a well-designed Microsoft Fabric architecture becomes more than a reporting platform. It becomes the foundation for the next generation of institutional intelligence.
Planning your Microsoft Fabric journey?
Whether you’re modernizing legacy reporting, expanding Azure investments, or building an enterprise data platform, MCG helps colleges and universities design Microsoft Fabric architectures that scale across departments while supporting governance, analytics, and future AI initiatives.