MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Board of Governors on Wednesday unanimously approved building a housing and student center complex on the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus, advancing USF’s plans to expand and transform the college experience for students.

In the coming months, USF will break ground on a multi-story, 100,000-square-foot housing/student center along Seagate Drive just west of Crosley Campus Center. When the new complex opens in fall 2024, over 200 students will be able to live on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus for the first time.

“The new housing and student center is crucial to supporting the growth of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus,” USF President Rhea Law said in a statement. “This new project will allow the campus to strengthen the overall student experience as it continues expanding its academic program offerings in high-demand fields.”

The new building will have two parts: The student center, with 32,000 square feet on the ground floor, will feature a new bookstore and spaces for dining, lounges and meeting rooms. Student housing, with 68,000 square feet on the upper floors, will be comprised of 70 double-occupancy bedrooms and 60 single-occupancy bedrooms in one-bedroom, two-bedroom and four-bedroom apartment-style configurations, with shared bathrooms, living spaces and kitchens or kitchenettes.

Karen Holbrook, regional chancellor for the Sarasota-Manatee campus, says the new building will bring an added sense of vibrancy.

"Our students have often told us they would like to live on campus and enjoy a traditional college experience. The new student center and residence hall will transform our beautiful campus and provide our students with new opportunities for success,” Holbrook said in a statement. “This project has been considered for several years, and I’m grateful to President Law for helping bring it to fruition, and to the Board of Governors and the USF Board of Trustees for their support.”

Sarasota-Manatee Student Gov. Evelyn De Oliveira said students are excited about the new complex. She says there will be high demand for the chance to live on campus.

“With on-campus housing, students will have a chance to interact with each other more as well as experience student life on-campus instead of having to commute every day,” De Oliveira said. “I believe the demand is there even though we are a small campus. It will give students the opportunity to experience living on their own, including international students who want to come to USF but would like the close-knit environment.”

Construction of the new building is expected to cost approximately $39 million. USF will contribute $16.5 million, with the remaining funding coming from the sale of up to $30 million in bonds through the USF Financing Corp. 

The student center/housing complex represents half of the expansion plans that promise to almost triple the size of the Sarasota-Manatee campus and grow its appeal to students, faculty and the community.

Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature funded, and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved an initial $3 million appropriation for a 75,000-square-foot Nursing/STEM building.

USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus Board Chair Rick Piccolo says the projects illustrate USF’s commitment to Sarasota-Manatee and growing the local campus’s profile in the area. Piccolo also is president of the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, which sits across U.S. 41 from the campus.

“It has been exciting to watch what is happening at the Sarasota-Manatee campus thanks to the hard work of the USF administration and others and to consider what the future holds for the school,” Piccolo said. “The entire community should be thrilled with the support we have received from the governor, the local legislative delegation, the Board of Governors and other leaders, and with USF’s plans to become an even more essential part of our wonderful community.”