Elevating the Student Experience: FIU’s Campus Transformation
Florida International University (FIU) is delivering a preeminent student experience. A key part of that experience? Providing students with world-class facilities that allow them to conduct research, build community and launch successful careers.
Eight projects designed to meet the needs of students — and the FIU community — are currently under construction on the university’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus with six others in the design phase. This is one of the largest numbers of FIU construction projects in progress at one time.
“At FIU, our vision is clear and our future is bold,” said FIU President Jeanette M. Nuñez. “The construction projects transforming our campus are designed to strengthen strategic research, innovation, and student success. We are building the future and paving the way for our students, faculty, staff, and alumni to achieve excellence and positively impact our community and the world.”
Many of the projects are supported by the State of Florida through appropriations or by university bonding and private donations.
Sunblazer Hall
Sunblazer Hall will make history in Florida and become one of FIU’s signature buildings. When completed, the hall will stand 17 stories high, making it the tallest residence hall at a higher education institution in the State University System of Florida. The hall will feature a sleek, modern, glass exterior; interior space for 1,174 beds; and a makerspace lab that will allow students to engage with cutting-edge technology. The hall is expected to open in fall 2028.
Residential food hall
To increase food options for ten thousand students living on campus and in adjacent private residential halls, a new residential food hall will be coming to campus. The hall will contain five retail dining venues: a coffee shop; a diner; an Asian cuisine location; a Mexican cuisine location; and a surprise national brand chicken location. The hall is expected to open in Fall 2027.
Helen and Jacob Shaham Academic Medical Center
Funded through a $212 million State of Florida appropriation, the seven-story, 163,000-square-foot facility is the largest and most significant investment in health care delivery directly on FIU’s main campus. The center is a collaboration between the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and Baptist Health South Florida. It will allow medical students, residents and clinical faculty to work together while providing patient care. The facility will feature academic learning spaces and outpatient services, including same-day surgery and diagnostic imaging. Philanthropists Helen and Jacob Shaham made a landmark $30 million gift in support of the building. The facility is expected to open in 2028.
Trish and Dan Bell Chapel
The Trish and Dan Bell Chapel will serve as a gathering place for worship, contemplation and spiritual strengthening at FIU. The 17,000-square-foot facility is an architecturally striking space, featuring a sanctuary that can seat more than 200 people, prayer rooms, multipurpose event space and more. The chapel will provide more than 16 faith-based student clubs with space for events, effectively acting as the backdrop for some of the most sacred moments of students’ days on campus. The chapel is set for completion in 2026 and is named after the philanthropists who gifted FIU $14 million to support the construction of the building.
Innovation Complex
Innovation is at the core of FIU’s strategic plan, faculty research, student success and collaboration with university partners. The Innovation Complex is designed to elevate FIU’s research profile. The complex’s first building, which has already been opened, is a 125,000 square-foot, six-story facility. Work is underway for the second building, which will continue to expand FIU’s research footprint and will house classrooms, laboratories, and research spaces.
CasaCuba
The Benjamín León Jr. CasaCuba building will be a multidimensional cultural and academic center facilitating the study of Cuban heritage, history, research and culture. The 43,000-square-foot facility will showcase FIU’s Cuba-related collections and will include classrooms. The Honorable Benjamín León Jr. gifted $10 million to help build the facility. CasaCuba received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the James S. and John L. Knight Foundation. Business leader Jorge Mas also made a $5 million gift to CasaCuba.
Student Health Center expansion
To meet the needs of students and ensure their wellbeing, the Student Health Center will be expanding more than 10,000 square feet to house a third wing specifically dedicated to patient care. The new wing, along with a renovation of the old wings, will reconfigure the entire complex to bring all the clinic spaces into one central location.
Graham Center expansion
The expansion of the Graham Center (GC), the student union building, will introduce a world-class, 15,000-square-foot ballroom that will exponentially increase FIU’s ability to host national and global conferences, academic convening and large-scale university events. Construction is expected to conclude in 2029.
Learn more about our campus transformation.