The space is being built to FIU’s specifications to accommodate working professionals who will attend classes and professional development workshops there. The 10-year, $12 million lease was awarded to Florida East Coast Realty, after an exhaustive process that involved several proposals from buildings in the area. FIU President Mark Rosenberg says, “We are making a significant commitment to the downtown area because our students and alumni tell us they need greater access to evening graduate programs near their offices.”

Alyce Robertson, executive director of the Miami Downtown Development Authority, says as downtown transforms into an international destination for residents and businesses, the demand for nearby access to higher education will only continue to grow. As she sees it, FIU is not just expanding its footprint, it is helping prime the pump for continued investment and economic development within the urban core.

“Residential and business expansion have caused an educational expansion also,” Robertson tells GlobeSt.com. “We are working to make sure there are adequate educational opportunities throughout all the grades as our residential population grows.”