The Rollins College team gathered for a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony and a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Lakeside Neighborhood on February 25, 2021, at 12:15 p.m.
Students at Rollins College began returning to campus last September, taking part in a staggered move in to optimize physical distancing. In 2019, the Winter Park-based college leveled the former McKean Hall near Lake Virginia to prepare for the new Lakeside Neighborhood. The student housing area accommodates 496 student beds. The new $71 million student housing project is part of the school's strategic initiative to have a three-year, on-campus residency requirement in the 2021-2022 academic year.
The 250,000-square foot student housing project was completed in two phases (188,495 in phase 1) and (49,235 in phase 2). Winter Park Construction (WPC), served as the general contractor for both phases of the project, working with Winter Park-based real estate developer Alan Ginsburg. Orlando-based Rob Schaeffer Visualization & Planning was the architect for the project.
Named “Lakeside Neighborhood” the new student dorms are part of the Lakeside community, which includes three wings named in honor of past Rollins College presidents Hugh McKean, Thaddeus Seymour, and Rita Bornstein. “Each of these storied leaders laid the groundwork to make Rollins the great college it is today, and set the stage for those of us who have the honor of stewarding its mission to educate our students for global citizenship and responsible leadership, empowering our graduates to pursue meaningful lives and productive careers,” said President Grant H. Cornwell.
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