Maintaining a campus rooted in the 19th century comes with a hefty price tag — a reality Flagler College knows well.
Flagler, named one of the Top 25 Most Beautiful U.S. College Campuses by Travel + Leisure in June, continues to balance historic preservation with modern upgrades.
“We’ve been working on a 10-year facilities plan while increasing our annual maintenance budget,” President John Delaney told the Business Journal. “We used to spend around $2 to $2.5 million a year — but realistically, that number should be closer to $5 to $6 million.”
The private liberal arts school recently wrapped up the second phase of a $150 million overhaul of its iconic Ponce de León Hall. Originally built in 1888 as the luxury Hotel Ponce de Leon, the national historic landmark serves today as a student dormitory. Renovations began after a burst pipe caused significant water damage to the east wing. That section reopened in 2023, while work on the west wing finished just in time for this fall semester.
The $150 million effort included $70 million in state funding through the Florida Division of Historical Resources. Upgrades ranged from modern plumbing and electrical systems to the replication of the dining hall’s original chandelier, the restoration of 60 historic fireplaces, and redesigned student housing. A new chiller plant was also added to support the building.
Expanding Student Housing and the Arts
Flagler isn’t the only institution investing heavily in its future. St. Johns River State College (SJR State) also recently unveiled a $20.3 million residence hall at its Palatka campus — the first of its kind for the school.
The three-story, 60,000-square-foot facility includes 32 four-bedroom suites with full kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, laundry, and community spaces. As of late August, 125 students had already moved in.
Even as the dorm opened, SJR State broke ground on another ambitious project — a $15 million renovation and expansion of its Florida School of the Arts. The 27,000-square-foot remodel and 11,000-square-foot addition will take about 15 months and feature new classrooms, offices, a blackbox theater, event space, and a central lobby. Updates to the existing theater, gallery, and fine arts facilities are also included.
“This new conservatory-like environment will give students an experience few other schools can match,” said SJR State President Joe Pickens.
Specialized Learning in Health Sciences
Meanwhile, the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) has completed the second phase of upgrades to its new campus at 1 News Place, the former headquarters of the St. Augustine Record.
The $1.3 million project added a 2,755-square-foot movement lab for physical therapy students, along with a new conference room, outdoor learning area, and athletic training space.
“Where we stand out is in blending innovative teaching with early, hands-on training,” said Chancellor and CEO Vivian Sanchez.
Founded in 1979 by Dr. Stanley Paris, USAHS focuses on health and rehabilitative sciences and operates additional campuses in California, Miami, and Texas. The institution relocated to St. Augustine in 1991.