Shovel-ready: PBSC gears up for new campus construction
Architectural design, infrastructure and site work are underway for a new Palm Beach State College campus to serve residents in the growing communities of central-western Palm Beach County.
The District Board of Trustees last fall approved educational specifications for the campus’ first phase and committed $4 million for design and preliminary site work. The College is seeking a $10 million state appropriation to begin construction of the first building on the 75-acre site located along Southern Boulevard in Loxahatchee Groves. The project is positioned to be “shovel ready” when funding is approved.
While the projected opening date is dependent upon funding, the campus could begin operating as early as January 2016. The first phase will include a 50,000-square-foot multipurpose classroom/administration building, a health sciences and library building and a student center.
The campus will serve the fastest growing portion of Palm Beach County, providing convenient access for education and career training for residents of Loxahatchee Groves, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Loxahatchee and The Acreage. More than a third of the county’s total population lives in these communities, and planning is underway for several large developments projected to add 43,000 additional residents.