Groundbreaking Innovation

On May 11, Central Florida leaders and children from the Parramore community broke ground on the new UCF Downtown campus. The 148,000-square-foot Dr. Phillips Academic Commons will be the center of campus when it opens in 2019.

“This is the next evolution of this site that will solidify Orlando as a nationally recognized educational leader. I think this campus will be a model for other cities and other communities.”
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

“This will help ensure new pathways to a college education for our community, lifting our region’s prosperity and providing new academic programs that align with growing industries in our region,” said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs during the groundbreaking ceremony.

The groundbreaking was a chance for the community to celebrate the campus’ beginnings.

In celebration of the partnership between UCF and Valencia, Pop Parlour created a special strawberry, mango and chocolate popsicle that symbolizes both schools’ colors.

A model shows what the Dr. Phillips Academic Commons and other buildings at UCF Downtown and Creative Village will look like when the project is completed.

Central Florida leaders and children from the Parramore community break ground on the new UCF Downtown campus.

Chairman of the UCF Board of Trustees Marcos Marchena ’82 and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer look at historical photos of the Parramore district and downtown Orlando.

Students from the UCF School of Visual Arts and Design sketch scenes from the groundbreaking.

Valencia President Sandy Shugart and UCF Provost A. Dale Whittaker present a $1,000 scholarship to Porcha Jones, a Parramore resident and junior at nearby Jones High School, who plans to attend the new campus and pursue a career in medicine.