As Florida State University continues to expand and attract new students, some major transformations are underway to further FSU’s goal of a pedestrian-friendly” and “vibrant academic” residence, according to the institution’s 2020-2030 campus master plan.
On the northwest side of campus, the university plans to construct new residence halls, a new dining hall, and a new parking garage. According to Senior Director of University Communications Amy Farnum-Patronis, this construction project is expected to begin by March 1 and to be substantially completed by May 2028, allowing for occupants in fall 2028.
“All projects consider life safety, pedestrian access, vehicular access, noise, and many more coordination impacts during planning, design, and construction,” Farnum-Patronis said in a statement to the FSView. “The university intentionally partners with design and construction firms who are familiar with the operations on campus, the rhythm of the academic calendar, and are experienced working in occupied spaces. Whenever possible, work is scheduled during times that reduce the disruption to classes, exams, and other essential aspects of campus life.”
FSU on-campus housing gets a long-awaited upgrade
FSU Housing includes 18 residence halls that are home to over 6,700 undergraduate students, and many students turn to these dormitories for a sense of community and the convenience of living next door to their classes and dining halls.
Two to three new residence halls, totaling about 1,300 beds, will supposedly replace the Salley, McCollum, and Rogers halls once they are closed down in 2028. A new dining facility is also planned for that area. FSU administration has denied current plans for the demolition of Salley, McCollum, and Rogers halls.
“The new dining facility and residence halls will bring updated services to our students and be a comfortable and beautiful place where students can live, study, eat, and play in a community,” former Executive Director of University House and Childcare Center Shannon Staten said in a statement to the Tallahassee Democrat.
In part due to their age, many students find the 50 to 60-year-old dorm layouts to be cramped or outdated compared to newer dorms such as Azalea and Magnolia halls.
“I think Salley is definitely due to get torn down; I’ve heard a lot of bad experiences from people who live there,” exploratory major Julia Mate said in a statement to the FSView. “I’ve heard many didn’t have hot water for a while, and that the common area is weirdly set up because you have to leave the building to enter it, so if you forget your FSU ID, you’re stuck.”
New parking garage to ease on-campus parking woes
This fall, a new parking garage will also be under construction at the northwest corner of Call Street and Chieftan Way. This comes after a consistent increase in demand for on-campus parking within recent years, with many students frustrated about parking availability, increases in citation fees, and additional parking rules.
Though it does not have an official name yet, construction is expected to start by April 1 for this garage and should be substantially finished by May 2027, according to Farnum-Patronis.
“Plans for new parking is the best idea ever. We need more places close to campus and that people can leave their cars in overnight or on football game weekends,” athletic training major Lelia Smith said in a statement to the FSView. “Having to clear out all seven floors of Pensacola garage is diabolical for football games when students park there overnight; where are they supposed to go?”
What will happen to the Rovetta buildings?
Some long-standing construction projects recently met their completion on campus. The new Herbert Wertheim College of Business was completed this spring, with doors opening to a five-floor facility located on West Madison Street near the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
The Rovetta buildings, in which the College of Business previously operated, will undergo future renovations to provide academic and student support, and the Tucker Center lot nearby is also becoming a dedicated parking area for students.
“Generations from now, we will point to the opening of the Wertheim Center as profoundly pivotal in both the trajectory and impact of the college,” Dean of the FSU College of Business Michael Hartline said in a statement to the FSView. “Together, we have laid the foundation for generations of students to dream, achieve, and lead.”
FSU looks to renovate Kellogg Building and more
Construction will begin this summer on a Kellogg Building Remodel, Farnum-Patronis says. Design plans are also underway for many projects, including the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Building C, new additions and remodels to the College of Nursing, an Academic Support Complex, and a Veterans Legacy Complex.
In May 2025, FSU also opened the Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building located in FSU’s Innovation Park. FSU had announced a dedication of $20 million to quantum science and engineering research within three years, allowing for further expansion of research, hiring faculty, and housing the Magnet Lab.
This lab “provides countless opportunities to engage with leading researchers from various fields and is a testament to FSU’s dedication to creating a vibrant, state-of-the-art research environment,” Assistant Professor of Physics He Zhao said in a public statement.
Brianna Christensen is a Staff Writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at contact@fsview.com.
This article originally appeared on FSU News: What is FSU building? Upcoming projects bring new dorms, resources
Reporting by Brianna Christensen, Staff Writer, FSView / FSU News
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