The fall of 2018 will see the opening of UCF’s downtown Orlando campus a year later than planned, aimed at diversified funding and less money than requested from Governor Rick Scott.
Approximately $60 million for a 165,000-square-foot academic building begins phase one of the project, where a joint partnership between UCF and Valencia State College will host 4,000 and 350 students, respectively. Expected enrollment is 7,300 for the first day of classes.
UCF officials requested the state pay for $20 million in costs to the building versus the $60 million denied by Scott over the summer. The new plan is for the remaining $40 million to be covered through donations and existing university funds, should the request be granted.
“The proposed new academic building would be the centerpiece at the downtown campus,” UCF Provost Dale Whittaker said at a trustees meeting.
The hopes of the Florida Board of Governors approving the request will go to table towards the end of 2015.
The campus looks to include 300 dormitory beds and 600 parking-garage spaces, paid through parking fees and housing revenue, with room for expansions to both when the opportunity arrives.
UCF President John C. Hitt will give his State of the University Address to the community to discuss the university’s progress on Wednesday, September 30, at 3 p.m. in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union. Doors open at 2:30 and live-viewing access can be found at oir.ucf.edu/webcast.
