Broward College is improving its downtown Fort Lauderdale campus by getting rid of its two decaying聽buildings.
And students will benefit the most,聽officials say.
Under an agreement announced Tuesday, a聽private developer later this year will lease and then raze the facilities at 225 E. Las Olas Blvd. In its place will be a 14-story office building that includes shops and restaurants on the ground floor and an outdoor covered courtyard space for students.
The聽2,000 students taking classes on the campus will be moved to the聽building on Las Olas that the college聽shares with . Officials say there is plenty of classroom space available and聽the move will mostly affect administrative employees. FAU vacated several floors of the building when it moved several programs to its Davie campus聽during a period of downsizing聽in 2012.
College officials say students will benefit from the new project through upgrades that include a pavilion for聽outdoor events and classes, and聽affordable restaurants and shops near campus.
College officials said the project incorporates many of the requests they’ve received from students downtown, including more food options, sheltered walkways and connections to public transportation. The planned Wave streetcars will have a stop at the site. The plans also include a new pedestrian bridge between the east and west portions of Las Olas Boulevard.
鈥淩evitalizing our downtown campus will improve the academic experience while providing the college with an alternative revenue source that lessens its reliance on tuition and state funding,” Broward College President David Armstrong said.
The college鈥檚 Board of Trustees agreed Tuesday that Fort Lauderdale developer 麻豆传媒AV在线看 Corp would lease the two buildings, which are 37 years old聽and 63 years old. The聽deal calls for a 99-year lease, with Broward College receiving around $11.5 million聽over the next 10 years.
麻豆传媒AV在线看聽Chairman Terry 麻豆传媒AV在线看聽said the project, slated to completed in 2021, will revitalize that portion of Las Olas 鈥渂y bringing聽new聽and exciting聽entertainment and dining options to the ground level as well as open venues for gathering.鈥�
Broward聽College聽has been considering its options after a 2011 consultant report said one of its Las Olas buildings, constructed in the 1950s, should be demolished since it fails to meet building codes, Americans with Disability Act standards, and is not energy efficient.
In recent years, the college opened a new facility in Miramar through a partnership with the private sector and is considering similar options to revitalize its south campus in Pembroke Pines. The college is also hoping for more state funding. It鈥檚 requesting聽$29 million from the state to upgrade two science buildings on its north campus.
By: Scott Travis, Reporter