Construction Progress at Florida Tech's New Residence Hall
The construction site for Crimson Crossing, a six-story student housing facility at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, presents a landscape of dark soil and scattered white stone, creating challenging walking conditions around the emerging structure.
"I apologize for the rough terrain," stated Greg Campbell, senior superintendent with CBG Building Co., as he guided visitors across the muddy ground toward the central section of the E-shaped building.
This 556-bed complex is scheduled to open in August, positioned at the intersection of Babcock Street and University Boulevard. The apartments will typically offer four-bedroom layouts with two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a combined living and dining space.
Future Campus Connectivity
University plans include constructing an elevated pedestrian bridge across Babcock Street to link the new 212,237-square-foot building with academic facilities on campus. The Florida Tech board of trustees has proposed allocating up to $5.9 million for this infrastructure project.
On Wednesday, December 18, university officials hosted a "topping-out" ceremony at the active construction site, a tradition that signifies the placement of the final structural steel beam, as defined by the American Institute of Steel Construction.
During the event, participants signed and wrote messages on metal bands with colorful markers. Speeches were delivered from a podium set up on a soil mound near construction trailers, surrounded by stacks of chrome studs and containers of wall finishing materials.
"It's easy to see how a modern residential facility at the campus entrance along a major thoroughfare strengthens our identity as a contemporary hub for learning and innovation," Vice President for Student Affairs David McMahan announced to attendees, with background noise from construction machinery.
McMahan noted that some existing student housing at Florida Tech is over seven decades old. Crimson Crossing is expected to increase the campus housing capacity, currently at 2,048 beds, by 27%.
Construction Details and Timeline
President John Nicklow praised the construction team for their attention to detail on "every beam, every bolt, every weld" of the project. During his remarks, workers in bright clothing were applying exterior finishes to upper floors using scaffolding on the north side.
Campbell, who previously managed a similar student housing project at the University of South Florida, provided a brief tour of the ground floor to journalists.
"We just started hanging drywall (about) a week ago," Campbell reported.
Inside future suites in the east wing, pink insulation fills spaces between metal wall frames. Electrical components and wiring are prepared for drywall installation, with construction materials organized alongside equipment.
Campbell outlined the project timeline: foundation work began in mid-April, structural framing commenced in July, and parking lot paving occurred in mid-August. He added that approximately two-thirds of windows are installed, the roof should be finished by the second week of January, and elevator installation is set to start on January 19.
