South University - West Palm Beach and Rendina Companies host groundbreaking
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
South University — West Palm Beach, FL
South University and Rendina Companies hosted a groundbreaking event for the new 100,000-square-foot University Centre development located at U.S. 441 and Belvedere Road in Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Rendina Companies purchased the 10-acre site from Palm Beach County, after the Mounted Posse moved to the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Last month, South University singed a 10-year lease and became the anchor for the complex, leasing all 40,000 square feet in the first building, with the option of leasing an additional 30,000 square feet in a second building. The university expects to move its operations to the new address in the fourth quarter of next year.
"Our students in West Palm Beach totaled nearly 1,000 last Fall," said South University's chancellor John T. South, III. "The additional square footage is needed to accommodate our growing student body, but what I think is most important is that the new space is being designed with a focus on optimizing the student experience. We are creating technology laden Nursing, Physical Therapy and Graphic Design labs, and the library is being built with room for additions to the university's collection. These are the things that make a difference to students, and these are the same things we are making a priority."
CEO Richard Rendina of Rendina Companies, described the three-building development as fixture for the Royal Palm Beach community.
"We are proud to add South University to this exciting new project," added Richard M. Rendina, chairman and CEO. "The educational traditions established by this fine institution throughout the Southeastern United States will be enhanced by its new home in Palm Beach County and will attract tenants to University Centre."
University Centre is designed with a Mediterranean influence and will feature state-of-the-art, hurricane resistant infrastructure. South University's building will include several large labs, lecture halls, a library, and seminar rooms, for the 83 member faculty to use in teaching the university's professional nursing, physical therapy assisting, business, information technology, healthcare management, graphic design, legal studies, behavioral sciences and criminal justice programs.
Established in 1899, South University is a private academic institution dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. South University offers educational programs at the associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral level with campuses located in Savannah, Ga., Columbia, S.C., Tampa and West Palm Beach, Fla. and Montgomery, Ala.
Further information on South University is available at: www.southuniversity.edu.
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