Just over a year after the groundbreaking, the HCC SouthShore Campus
state-of-the-art science and technology building at 551 24th Street
in Ruskin is complete and will host its first classes in August. The
two-story, 36,624 square-foot building includes nine laboratories, five
prep labs, two computer classrooms, six traditional classrooms, four
offices and a dean’s suite.
“We are absolutely thrilled to add this beautiful building to our campus
community,” SouthShore Campus President Dr. Allen Witt said. “The
addition opens new doors for our science faculty and expands learning
opportunities for our students.”
Science department head Mustapha Lahrach looks forward to teaching his
biology courses in the new space.
“The high-tech laboratories will bring so many more possibilities to
instruction in all of the sciences,” Professor Lahrach said. “It’s an
exciting time to be teaching college students.”
Like the rest of the HCC SouthShore Campus, the new science and
technology building is a LEED-certified green building. The construction
team for this project included architects Reynolds Smith and Hills,
civil engineer Stantec, MEP consultants Volt Air and construction
manager Cutler Associates. The project budget was approximately $9.8
million.
The HCC SouthShore Campus was built on a 100-year-old tomato field
generously donated by the Dickman family. Since its opening in 2008,
HCC’s SouthShore Campus has grown to serve more than 6,500 students.
During the 2013-2014 school year, enrollment for this campus grew 7.3
percent.
Hillsborough Community College serves more than 46,000 students annually
at five campuses and three centers throughout Hillsborough County. HCC
is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools. For additional information, visit hccfl.edu.
