WATCH: Eastern Florida State College Unveils $87 Million Master Plan to Revamp Cocoa Campus

largest planned capital outlay ever made on any of Eastern Florida's four campuses

ABOVE VIDEO: Eastern Florida State College’s $87 million 10-year Master Plan to add academic buildings, student housing, a new planetarium, and major improvements to the Cocoa campus grounds.

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Eastern Florida State College announced the start of a new era Monday for its Cocoa Campus with a plan to invest $87 million to build new academic buildings, student housing and major improvements to the campus grounds.

The master plan was presented to the EFSC Board of Trustees, with college officials saying it will ensure the campus is a vital center for higher education into the future with a focus on programs for high-technology careers and general education.

The investment is the largest planned capital outlay the college has ever made on any of its four campuses.

Two L-shaped student housing buildings shown in this artist’s rendering would be built along the southern edge of Clear Lake as part of EFSC’s $87 million Master Plan for Cocoa campus improvements. (EFSC image)

“This plan will transform the campus and help move our community forward in important ways, giving students first-class learning facilities and helping spur economic growth,” said EFSC President Dr. Jim Richey.

“It’s an exciting, once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the campus’ role and what it can provide to students, Space Coast industry, and the Cocoa community. I’m thrilled about its future. It’s going to have a significant impact and benefit everyone.”

A new Planetarium is planned as part of EFSC’s $87 million 10-year Master Plan for Cocoa campus improvements, as shown in this artist’s rendering. The current Planetarium was permanently closed in 2017 due to severe damage sustained from Hurricane Irma. (EFSC image)

The 10-year plan is the result of nearly a year of work that included input from students, employees, and local residents.

The highlight is $87 million in new facilities for fields such as aerospace technology, engineering technology, and advanced manufacturing. New and renovated buildings will also house classrooms and labs for healthcare, science, and other programs.

In doing so, the plan reflects the workforce needs of area businesses and industries for highly skilled employees, including commercial space companies at Kennedy Space Center, other high-tech firms, and healthcare providers.

This artist’s rendering shows the new planned main entrance from Clearlake Road to the EFSC Cocoa Campus and the STEM Building for science classrooms and labs included in an $87 million 10-year Master Plan for new academic buildings, student housing, and major grounds improvements on the college’s oldest campus. (EFSC image)

The campus will also stay true to its long-standing mission for general education that allows students to earn a two-year Associate Degree before embarking on a firm career path or moving on to a Bachelor’s program at EFSC or other colleges and universities.

Most of the funding for the projects is being requested through appropriations from the Florida Legislature and follows the $22 million the college has spent in recent years on a range of Cocoa campus upgrades.

Some of the master plan work is already underway with the college spending $1 million this year to repaint campus buildings and improve landscaping.

Eastern Florida State College announced the start of a new era Monday for its Cocoa Campus with a plan to invest $87 million to build new academic buildings, student housing and major improvements to the campus grounds. (EFSC image)

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