Florida Chamber of Commerce

Florida Poly breaks ground on third student residential building

LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University is starting construction of its third student residential building to expand its on-campus housing offerings and keep pace with the school’s high demand and enrollment growth.

Residence Hall III will be a five-story, 137,000-square-foot dormitory with 430 beds in one-, two- and four-bedroom suites. Its design is focused on sustainability, flexibility, and campus community featuring multiple lounges, study spaces, a large multipurpose room, offices, and an interior courtyard with plants and water-conserving landscaping.

The project is expected to be completed by the beginning of fall 2024 at a total cost of $42 million. It is financed with a tax-exempt public bond issued by the state on behalf of the State University System, and will be the first dorm owned by Florida Poly.

“This much-needed residence hall represents such an important milestone for our University, and is the result of a substantial effort by so many,” said Dr. Randy K. Avent, Florida Poly’s president. “This new facility will have a big impact on our students and their success on campus while supporting the growth we’re experiencing and anticipating over the next several years.”

Florida Poly’s existing housing is fully occupied, and student enrollment is expected to keep climbing as the University’s reputation as a premier STEM institution continues to rise. First-time-in-college applications increased 118% from applications in fall 2018 and 37% between fall 2021 and fall 2022.

“More and more students across Florida and the country are recognizing the great value of Florida Poly for its academic excellence, selectivity, and affordability,” said Dr. Ben Matthew Corpus, vice provost for enrollment management. “We’re looking forward to having this new residential facility ready for our students to enjoy, as it will be critical to keep up with our enrollment needs and the increased demand for our University.”

 

The University is partnering with Capstone Development Partners in a public-private partnership to provide efficiencies in speed of delivery and design. Capstone Management Partners will provide operations and maintenance services for the new residence hall.

“We are delighted to be Florida Poly’s partner on this project, allowing us the opportunity to help a growing University expand its campus housing offerings to attract and retain top students,” Walker May, Project Executive and EVP, Capstone Development Partners. “Upon completion, this new residential community will create an active, village-like precinct on campus, enhancing the student experience and helping Florida Poly continue its ascension as one of the leading public universities in the country fully dedicated to STEM.”

Capstone’s design-build team for the project includes Design Collective, an architectural firm with decades of experience designing student-oriented communities and facilities for college and university campuses.

“Design Collective is excited to bring our shared student housing experience and expertise to Florida Poly’s unique campus,” said Tom Zeigenfuss, AIA, NCARB, principal at Design Collective. “This third phase of housing will help the University continue its growth by providing an upper-division focused, on-campus, residential community option that has a vibrant mix of uses and an architectural aesthetic that builds upon the best of the campus’ character.”

The residential facility will be built by nationwide construction company Clancy & Theys.

“Clancy & Theys is honored to partner with Florida Polytechnic University and Capstone Development on the construction of Residence Hall III,” said Bill Zecher, vice president and Florida division manager of Clancy & Theys Construction Company. “We are excited to continue these longstanding partnerships to create a place students can truly call home.”

For the most recent University news, visit Florida Poly News.

 

About Florida Polytechnic University: Florida Polytechnic University is ranked the number one public college in the Southern Region for two years in a row, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and a member of the State University System of Florida. Nationally ranked in engineering education, Florida Poly is the only state university dedicated exclusively to STEM and offers ABET-accredited degrees. Florida Poly is a powerful economic engine within the state of Florida, blending applied research with industry partnerships to give students an academically rigorous education with real-world relevance. Florida Poly’s iconic Innovation, Science, and Technology Building, designed by world-renowned architect Dr. Santiago Calatrava, has won more than 20 global awards and was named one of the 16 most breathtaking buildings in the world. Connect with Florida Poly.

Capstone Development Partners
Capstone Development Partners, LLC is a leading student housing developer in the on-campus and university-affiliated student housing market. The company holds offices in Birmingham, Alabama and Denver, Colorado. Its principals, Jeff Jones and Bruce McKee, have more than 50 years combined experience as leaders in the higher education student housing sector specializing in the development and management of on-campus student housing through Public-Private Partnerships. Since 1997, the principals of Capstone have partnered with over 70 public and private colleges and universities and delivered more than 47,000 beds of student housing nationwide. For more information, visit capdevpartners.com.

Capstone Management Partners
Capstone Management Partners (“Capstone Management” or “CMP”), a Capstone Development Partners’ company, is located in Denver, CO. CMP provides operations and maintenance management for on-campus student residential communities across the nation. The company offers a range of services including operations and maintenance services, asset management, responsive maintenance and custodial services, preventative maintenance programs, marketing and leasing and capital renewal planning. These services are tailored to the needs of each project and provided with unmatched excellence in customer service. CMP leadership is made of individuals with extensive higher education backgrounds and experience. For more information, visit capstonemp.com.

Clancy & Theys Construction Company

Clancy & Theys Construction Company is one of the largest Southeast contractors, which is family owned and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina since 1949.  The Florida Division of Clancy & Theys was founded and registered as a Florida Corporation in 1991 and has been in continuous operation for the past 32 years. Clancy & Theys has a rich tradition of craftsmanship demonstrated by the numerous landmark projects constructed over our seventy-four year history. Over the past four decades, our work has primarily focused on projects involving team approaches to design and construction including CM at Risk, Team Build, and Design Build. Today, Clancy & Theys builds a wide range of projects including educational facilities, multi-unit residential projects, mixed-use facilities, office buildings, hotels, religious facilities, cultural buildings, and more.

 

Design Collective

Design Collective is a multi-disciplinary architectural design firm that focuses on designing student-oriented communities and facilities for college and university campuses that are program responsive, resource efficient, transformational, and contextually appropriate. With over 40 years of experience, the firm’s work is often highlighted in academic journals and professional trade publications, repeatedly recognized for design excellence with over 350 design awards to its credit. Design Collective’s extensive student housing portfolio represents well over 38,000 beds on more than 50 college and university campuses across the country. For more information, visit designcollective.com.

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