President Jeanette Nuñez led her first groundbreaking ceremony at the active construction site that will become FIU’s newest 17-story student residence hall.
Gabriella Mateo | Staff Writer
On March 5, FIU hosted a small gathering at the Tamiami Hall Promenade to mark the construction of Sunblazer Hall, a new on-campus housing facility expected to house 1,200 students when it opens in Fall 2028.
“Every corner of the hall has been envisioned with students in mind,” stated President Nuñez when pointing to features such as a Makerspace on the first floor and a 30-foot high outdoor area that she described as the future “most popular spot on campus.”
The event featured Board of Trustees members, including SGA’s Francesca Casanova, Vice Chair Alan Gonzalez, and trustee Albert Taño. Also in attendance were Provost Elizabeth Bejar, Vice President of Student Affairs Charlie Andrews, Senior Vice President of University Advancement Ken Hall, and several representatives sent on behalf of Florida elected officials.
Moss Construction is leading the project. Vice Chair Chad Moss, a 1994 FIU alumnus, is also one of FIU’s largest donors. In 2017, he made a $10 million gift to the College of Engineering & Computing, which was named the Moss School of Construction in his honor.
“We hire from this university. We contribute to this university. We build for this university,” Moss said in his speech.
With the new Sunblazer Hall, named after the university’s original mascot, nearly 4,800 students are expected to be living on campus, and close to 12,500 students living on or around campus by 2030, according to Nuñez.
The construction of this new on-campus housing comes after the students in University Apartments buildings F, G, H, and J were given a two-month notice that their housing would be demolished to make way for a new medical facility, displacing hundreds of students.
The university currently has multiple construction plans across campus, including the building of FIU CasaCuba, the Trish and Dan Bell Chapel, the 8th Street Pedestrian Bridge, Graham Center expansion, CASE remodeling, Primera Casa hardening, and other various projects.
“We are really excited about growing that community. City of Sweetwater, I hope you’re ready cause we’re coming,” joked Nuñez.
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