Spacious New ‘Florida Tech Commons’ Building Opens
By Space Coast Daily // July 25, 2012
63,000-Square-Foot Facility
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Institute of Technology has opened its new Florida Tech Commons building at the intersection of University Boulevard and Babcock Street in Melbourne.
The three-story, 63,000-square-foot facility is designed as the new “front door” to Florida Tech’s campus.
“The first floor features our Center for Student Success, a gateway for a variety of student services, from the Registrar’s Office to Admissions,” said Dr. Anthony J. Catanese, Florida Tech president and chief executive officer. “This is also the new starting point for prospective students to get their first look at Florida Tech and a convenient, central location for current students to handle routine student service matters.”
In addition to the first-floor Center for Student Success, the building also houses the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts on the second floor. The third floor features areas including the Women’s Business Center, Continuing Education and Career Services.
Given the new building’s location across busy Babcock Street, many university staff are working to proactively address pedestrian safety concerns.
“We want everyone to be safe,” said T. Dwayne McCay, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Extra vigilance on the part of anyone crossing that intersection will be critical. Motorists should also use extreme care.”
Other safety steps that the university is pursuing include:
• Working with the City of Melbourne and the Florida Department of Transportation to reduce the speed limit.
• Adding all-way red light for pedestrian-only traffic at high traffic times of day.
• Installing stamped asphalt over entire intersection to slow traffic from all directions.
• Adding crosswalk improvements—to widen and improve accessibility.
• Implementing “no right turn on red” from all directions.
“We need the City of Melbourne’s help and the state’s cooperation to make these important safety adjustments,” McCay said. “Safety remains the university’s paramount concern.”
