EFSC Breaks Ground on Major New Technology Center
April 08, 2024
Eastern Florida State College leaders broke ground Monday on a new Center for Innovative Technology Education (CITE) that will set a regional standard in training high-tech workers.
The $20 million facility on the Melbourne Campus is scheduled to open in August 2025 with programs that can lead to Bachelor Degrees, Associate Degrees and College Certificates.
“CITE will be no ordinary building. Rather, it will set a high standard in Central Florida to meet the surging workforce demands for local business and industry,” said college President Dr. Jim Richey.
“As such, it will be a critical component in creating jobs and helping ensure the continued economic growth of the Space Coast.”
Richey thanked the college’s Board of Trustees for their strong support for the facility and gave special credit to three lawmakers for making CITE a reality.
They are State Rep. Tyler Sirois and State Sen. Tom Wright for sponsoring the project, and former State Rep. Rene Plasencia, who as then-chair of the House Higher Education Appropriations Committee approved the funding.
Richey listed several factors that will make the 31,500-square-foot building unique:
CITE will feature labs that can be easily configured to provide students with access to software used by high-tech employers, simulation labs and collaboration areas where students can work together to solve problems in real time.
Virtual reality and artificial intelligence also will be used to support learning for certain programs, helping bring together cutting-edge equipment and course work.
Training can be tailored to the specific needs of individual companies, giving them a go-to place to expand their workforce and provide continuing education for existing employees.
It can also help start-ups get their footing as they begin building their technical teams.
CITE will support students in programs that include Engineering Technology, Robotics, Mechatronics, 3D Printing, Computerized Drafting, Computer Information Systems, Cybersecurity and more.
Two other new EFSC facilities also promise to play a major role in high-tech workforce training, Richey said.
On the Cocoa Campus, an Advanced Technologies Center is taking shape that will feature programs to increase the pipeline of highly skilled workers for commercial space companies at the Kennedy Space Center.
And on the Titusville Campus, a new Aerospace Center of Excellence is in the works to train students in fields that support space exploration, advanced manufacturing, aviation and others.
“Combined, these efforts show our college’s commitment to workforce development and working hand-in-hand with our industry partners, ensuring a bright future for our students and the entire Space Coast,” said Richey.
The building was designed by HKS Architects Inc. and the primary contractor is the Ajax Building Company.
Eastern Florida State College serves about 18,000 students each year with classes on four campuses in Brevard County plus online. Learn more about the college at easternflorida.edu.
View additional images and artist renderings in the EFSC Flickr album.
- Contact:John J. Glisch, Associate Vice President, Communications
- Office:321-433-7017
- Cell:321-794-0324
- Email:glischj@easternflorida.edu