Seminole State College of Florida seeks funds to expand Altamonte Springs campus

Seminole State College of Florida is planning to build a new campus at Altamonte Spring.

The Sanford College is looking for state funding to build a 108,134 square foot Workforce, Science, & Technology building B, and renovate a former auto dealership into a student centre.

The cost of renovating the building is estimated to be $5.1 million.

It is important to note that the new space will allow more students to attend, helping local employers meet their workforce needs.

Joe Mazur is the Vice President of Business Operations and CFO at Seminole State. He told Orlando Business Journal, that the expansion of the surrounding communities caused the building to be over capacity when it opened in 2012. Since 2018, the college has requested funds to build a Building B with a footprint similar to that of Building A.

Mazur stated that both projects would give us more space for serving our students and the communities around us. The new funding request for Building B will allow us to expand degree and certificate opportunities. The Audi Building remodel will transform it into a Student Services building and flexible instructional space, which will allow us the opportunity to relocate existing student services and support from Building A and free up space for more classrooms and instruction in Building A.

A request for funding for the project stated that the Workforce, Science, & Technology Building would increase the capacity of programs from 4,500 up to 9,000. The new building would increase the capacity of many health care programs at the campus.

According to the request for appropriations, "admissions and testing, assessment, registration and transcripts, academic advising and financial aid, as well as disability and veterans services" would be housed in the student services building. The Florida Legislature gave the college $25 million between 2010 and 2014 to purchase the former Holler Automotive property next to campus. This spans approximately 25 acres.

Mazur stated that the construction of the projects depends on the timing of the funds and the amount received by the college.

According to Orlando Business Journal's research, Seminole State College of Florida enrolls 24,754 students. The college offers two-year and 4-year degrees, career certifications as well as career certificates.

Dodge Construction Network reported that non-residential construction starts in the United States were down 14% through the first half of this year. However, the education, office, and manufacturing sectors were bright spots. In a prepared statement, Chief Economist Richard Branch stated that the impact of a potential recession would affect certain construction types, but not others.

Branch stated that the non-residential sector of construction was poised to have a better than residential year. As people's incomes change, we're seeing people stay put or share living space out of financial necessity, which is weakening residential sector pipeline. Legislation and the cultural shifts we're experiencing after the lockdown are supporting non-residential construction projects.