State Legislature Votes to Fund Three New College Capital Projects

The final budget conference meeting of the 2022 legislative session wrapped on March 9, and the fixed capital outlay projects outlined in the budget included: $5,215,013 for the renovation of the Hamilton Center classroom building; $1,842,737 for deferred building maintenance; and $402,476 for the College Hall breezeway. In addition, a special cultural affairs grant of $25,000 was awarded to New Music New College. The Florida Legislature adopted the final budget on March 14 and will present it to the governor for final authorization.

“The Hamilton classroom renovation project will allow the College to make significant improvements, and we will begin the programming and planning process immediately,” said New College President Patricia Okker. “It will be exciting to see the renovation of the Hamilton classroom building take shape.”

Okker expressed gratitude for the support of individuals and groups such as: Senate President Wilton Simpson, House Speaker Chris Sprowls, and the State University System of Florida; Chancellor Marshall Criser, Chair Brian Lamb, and the Florida Board of Governors; the local legislative delegation; Capital City Consulting; Christie Fitz-Patrick (associate vice president for finance and administration) and Chris Kinsley (vice president for finance and administration) at New College; and the New College of Florida Board of Trustees and Board Chair Mary Ruiz.

“For me, these funds not only represent progress on much-needed renovations, but also a vote of confidence in New College by the Board of Governors and the state legislature,” Ruiz said. “I feel Dr. Okker’s leadership is inspiring heightened support of the College in this and in so many other ways.”

Ruiz added that the Board of Governors ranked New College’s PECO project No. 1 in the entire state.

“The advocacy of our local delegation is part of the momentum that alerted house and senate leadership to the worthiness of these projects,” Ruiz said.

And the funds are also preserving history. Located on New College’s East Campus, the Carl and Marjorie Hamilton Center was designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei and dedicated on May 4, 1967. It has since become a central hub for students on campus.

“The Hamilton classroom is one of the original Pei-designed facilities and has proven to be a true workhorse building over the years,” Kinsley said. “I am excited by this opportunity to create a revitalized and vibrant learning environment for our students. The project will address major code and functional deficiencies, including ADA concerns.”