Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland is beginning construction on its third student residential building.
The Lakeland Ledger reports that Residence Hall III will be adjacent to the two existing student housing facilities on the northeast part of campus. It is scheduled for completion by the fall 2024 semester.
The five-story, 137,000-square-foot building will hold 430 beds in one-, two- and four-bedroom suites. The design "is focused on sustainability, flexibility and campus community featuring multiple lounges, study spaces, a large multipurpose room, offices and an interior courtyard with plants and water-conserving landscaping," the university says.
Florida Poly's existing housing is fully occupied, and more space is needed to accommodate student enrollment that is expected to continue climbing.
The university opened in 2014 with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). It has an enrollment of about 1,600.
The residence hall has an estimated cost of $42 million. It is financed with a tax-exempt public bond issued by the state. The university is partnering with Capstone Development Partners on the project.
