Valencia and UCF partner to share space

Construction of a $35 million building is now underway at Valencia's Osceola campus, which will allow approximately 10,000 more UCF students to attend the satellite campus.

About 30,000 square feet of the 151,000 square-foot facility has been set aside for UCF's use, according to David Laney, associate vice president for business affairs and operations for the UCF regional campuses.

UCF contributed $7.5 million for the construction of the building.

The structure, which will nearly double the size of the existing campus, will include 12 UCF classrooms; three of the rooms will be computer labs.

The additional space will allow for more UCF degree programs to be offered at Valencia Osceola, Laney said, which are expected to be similar to those at the Valencia West location.

"Many of our students have quite a distance to travel to get to the Osceola campus, and it's not realistic to expect them to drive to the UCF main campus once they receive their AA degree," Valencia Osceola Provost Kathleen Plinske said. "I'm tremendously excited about the additional pathways this will open for students [who] will be able to complete a number of baccalaureate courses for UCF without having to leave the campus."

Laney said that the building will feature a library, dining facilities and open, atrium-style areas for students to congregate.

"This is going to be a very active building with lots of space to study and hang out," said Tommy Hagood, associate at HuntonBrady Architects and building project manager. "That's the heartbeat of what makes a commuter college different than a university. It's a personable place where people are coming to from all over the community to spend time."

Laney said that the Valencia Osceola campus has had difficulty allowing for additional enrollment over the past few years due to limited space and that the new facility will give students in the Southwest Orange County area greater access to the campus.

The initiative to facilitate more room for UCF students at the Valencia Osceola campus stems from the 2005 implementation of the "Direct Connect" program, which ensures UCF admission to those who complete their associate degree at Valencia, Seminole, Lake-Sumter or Brevard community colleges.

"This building indicates our effort to become the leading partnership institution in the United States," Laney said.

The facility will be wired in order to support the excessive use of electricity and Wi-Fi that are employed in modern-day education principles, Hagood said.

"The technology in this building is more advanced than any I've ever seen in terms of looking towards the future," Hagood said. "It's very good forethought."

All of the UCF classrooms will be "smart" multimedia areas, meaning that they are equipped with computer and audiovisual tools.

The facility will also be LEED-certified, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. To achieve this certification, the contractors are installing several features into the building to make it earth-friendly.

Hagood said that in addition to the building being constructed from entirely sustainable materials, a rainwater system will be installed that will reduce water usage up to 30 percent, as well as a high-efficiency air conditioning system.

The landscaping will consist of plants native to the area, which will aid in saving money, as well as wildlife.

The building's exterior has been designed to pay homage to Spanish culture in Kissimmee as it will have arched entryways and a clay roof and tiled floors.

"You put money in up front, but then you get years and years of payback," Hagood said.

Construction is expected to be completed November 2012, and the building will be available to students starting spring 2013.