UCF names new downtown campus building for Dr. Phillips

ORLANDO  UCF leaders voted last week to name its first academic building at the new downtown campus after Dr. Phillips Charities.

Upon completion the building will be known as the Dr. Phillips Academic Commons.

Dr. Phillips Charities is one of the region's leading philanthropic organizations and has been instrumental in the university's growth in the past. Last year it contributed $7 million to the new campus, pushing UCF past its $20 million goal for community support, which ultimately helped unlock state funding.

As part of the $60 million project, UCF needed to secure $20 million — one-third of the total budget — in private donations. 

According to UCF, the 148,000-square-foot building will be the heart of the downtown campus, which will be shared by UCF and Valencia College. It will have "collaborative learning space, classrooms and space for educational and community events" and a 600-space parking garage and power generation facility, according to a press release.

The downtown campus will be built on the site of the old Orlando Magic arena. Developers expect to break ground on the campus in May. The campus is set to open in fall 2019.

Contact Danielle Hendrix at [email protected].