The first major addition to Miami-Dade College Kendall Campus in 15 years will serve as a central location for student services and a new home for the MDC Kendall School of Business Administration.
Following a Feb. 18 groundbreaking, construction of the $31.8 million five-story building near the east campus entry got underway, May 2, on a one-acre site adjoining the campus’ tennis center.
Dr. Lourdes Oroza, Kendall Campus president, said the new building will help serve the campus’ growing population, which has increased 35 percent since 1997.
“We are very excited,” she added. “The building will provide better service and new technology for students, as well as accommodate our growth.”
Miami-Dade College’s Kendall Campus registered 34,461 students for credit and non-credit courses during the 2011 fall semester.
Designed for LEED Gold certification, the approximately 136,000-square-foot structure is scheduled to be completed by October 2012.
Opening the relocated School of Business from its existing building is planned for the 2013 spring semester, according to Gloria Baez, dean of MDC Kendall Administrative Services.
Architectural design by Perkins and Will incorporates environmental technologies that include energy-efficient air conditioning, plumbing and water conservation, as well as building construction features and material uses, she said. Kaufman-Lynn is the building’s general contractor.
The first three floors of the services building will centralize admissions, registration and financial aid services for new and continuing students and provide 21 new classrooms on the third floor.
The fourth floor will become the new home for MDC’s School of Business with a spacious multi-purpose room and classrooms. The fifth floor is designed as a testing center for admissions, placement and similar programs.
The Kendall campus is the largest of eight that comprise Miami-Dade College throughout the county with a total registration of 174,000. MDC listed 164,798 students during the 2009-10 academic year.
