FKCC’s marine technology building opens this month
After years of planning that included design changes and a financial misstep, the community college’s $7 million Marine Technology Building is ready to open.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Florida Keys Community College spokeswoman Amber Ernst-Leonard.
The new building is designed to provide an “enhanced learning environment” with new equipment, software, student labs and other features. The building is for what Ernst-Leonard calls the college’s “signature” programs: Marine engineering, management and seamanship.
As in the old building, students will do much, much more than learn how to fix outboards in the new 30,000-square foot building. But there’s enough space in the new building so students won’t have to stand in the rain to work on engines, which was the case in the old building.
The old marine technology building was not only cramped and aging, the space made it difficult to move extremely heavy engines around the lab spaces. According to Dr. Patrick Rice, dean of career technology and workforce education, the new building’s first floor — housing boats, engines and trailers — is connected to the second floor via a hoisting system. Engines can easily be transferred from the storage area to the second-floor’s diesel labs and engine testing room where students will receive hands-on training with various marine engine systems.
“This building represents a new era for the marine engineering program at FKCC,” he said. “The technology infused in the lab space — featuring 90-inch television screens controlled by iPads — will allow our instructors to interact with the students in ways we’ve never been able to before.”
One classroom, with the capability of being split in two, is specially equipped with lecture capture technology that will allow instructors to easily record lectures and post them online.
The new marine technology building had a bumpy road to its completion. The first architectural design for the building — which incorporated glass panels that rose to a curved roof — was rejected after the community reacted poorly to it. The design included third-floor offices, second-floor classrooms, and ground-level painting bays, wood and fiberglass shops and marine engine repair space.
The college also got in a little hot water with the state for diverting money for the new marine building and loaning it to the organization that was building the new dormitories on campus. The Public Education Outlay funds by law could only be used for the marine technology building.
The first set of classes in the new Marine Technology Building will be offered this upcoming summer term, which begins May 12.
The public will get a look at the new building May 6 at 5:30 p.m., when the builder, Ajax Building Corp., will open its doors for tours.
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