Building for the future: a summary of upcoming FIU construction projects

Brian Olmo | Editor-in-chief 

Recently, several major construction projects have been proposed to the Board of Trustees for consideration.

Each building aims to fulfill a current need for the FIU student body, such as adding more dining options or creating more student housing. 

Here are a few of the key things FIU is working on for the future that students should be on the lookout for.

Aquatic Center:

Aerial view for potential Aquatics Center building in between GC and AHC. | Photo from presentation given by John Cal.

During a March 7 ad hoc meeting, the Board of Trustees reviewed plans to build a new aquatic center on the Modesto Maidique campus. 

John Cal, associate vice president of facilities management, presented the board with three potential locations: in front of Blue Garage, between the Graham Center and Academic Health Center and on the west side of campus near other athletic facilities. 

No location has been selected and finalized. The only location that the board ruled against during their meeting was the west side of campus. 

For students, it offers another recreational pool. For members of the swimming and diving team, it gives them an area to practice in outside of the pool at Biscayne Bay campus.

New Student Residence Facility:

Construction of the new student residence was passed to address the university’s housing shortage. | Photo from a presentation by CFO Aime Martinez.

The construction of a new student resident facility was proposed to the BOT in a Feb. 29 meeting to address the lack of student housing on campus.

Chief Financial Officer Aime Martinez gave the presentation, citing the fact that only 3,814 students live on campus.

The new student residence would cost an estimated $185 million to build and has 815 beds. It would be located next to Tamiami Hall, with construction estimated to begin  in December  of 2025. The residence is projected to be completed by June 2027.

To fund the construction, a proposal to raise student rental rates was passed. From 2024 to 2025, rates will increase by 4.7%. 

New Housing Dining Facility: 

Design concepts of the new student dining hall to add more food options on campus. | Photo from a presentation by  Roger Clegg. 

In the same Feb. 29 meeting, assistant vice president of business services Roger Clegg proposed the construction of a new student dining facility and received approval from the BOT.. 

On MMC, students have many options to dine at during the day. However, there’s a lack of any late night dining options.

The new student dining facility, set to start construction sometime during the spring 2025 semester, would serve students later in the day with 4-5 different food venues and seat around 250 students. 

The proposed location is between University Towers and Lakeview Hall. The project is an estimated $12 million.