EFSC Breaks Ground on New Melbourne Campus Student Union

An exciting new chapter in student life began Monday at Eastern Florida State College with the groundbreaking for a new Student Union on the Melbourne campus.

College leaders and students gathered for the event, with EFSC President Dr. Jim Richey saying the building will give students a place to study, relax and participate in Eastern Florida’s rich collegiate experience.

“The building that will go up on this site reflects our strong commitment to students as we continue growing new academic programs that are giving them great career opportunities,” he said. “It’s a memorable day for everyone.”

The Student Union is the latest project in an expansion plan that is transforming the Melbourne campus.

The sleek, two-story glass structure will serve as the front door to the campus and include space for a variety of student services, clubs, activities and government.

There will be a multi-purpose room to hold large student, college and community events, as well as a rooftop terrace.

Landscaped plazas will flank both sides of the building, tying the Student Union together with the Titan Field House and Science buildings next door.

The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2018. It also contains other elements that will be phased in during a three year period from 2018-20. They include:

Turning Titan Boulevard into a grassy promenade with trees, benches and landscaped pathways.

Adding 320 more parking spaces to the college’s main parking lot along with new lighting.

Repainting the exterior of three nearby buildings: the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Teaching Center, Titan Field House and the Science Building.

The colors will match those of the new Student Union and other new buildings, creating a harmonious campus-wide look that will also include repainting all other campus buildings.

All the work is part of the Melbourne campus expansion that is making “excellent progress” since announced in 2014, said Richey.

In 2015, a new Public Safety Institute opened that is home to a Law Enforcement Academy, Corrections Academy, EMT and 911 Operator training and studies in other criminal justice fields.

Earlier this year, a new Health Sciences Institute opened that houses 12 programs and contains specialized labs with the latest medical technology on par with the best such facilities in the nation.

Future plans also call for the construction of a Center for Innovative Technology Education that would educate students for the aerospace, aviation, digital technology and advanced manufacturing industries.

“Clearly, the goal we set in the expansion plan – to make the Melbourne campus a local and regional center for higher education and workforce development – is being accomplished in an impressive way,” said Richey.

"The expansion, and all the projects that are part of it, is an important investment in the future of our students and our community that will benefit everyone for decades to come."

Richey thanked the Florida Legislature, Gov. Rick Scott and former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Steve Crisafulli for funding the Student Union, and for their previous support in funding the Public Safety and Health Sciences Institutes.

“All of them see the wisdom in our work to continue growing the college to provide area business and industry with the skilled employees they need, and help students achieve their dreams,” he said.

He also praised the college’s Board of Trustees for their “unwavering support and selfless commitment to higher education at Eastern Florida. Without our outstanding Board of Trustees none of this would be happening.”

For more information on the college and its programs, visit easternflorida.edu