Andrews Center (Starke)

In 1983 the historic courthouse in Bradford County, and some of the surrounding properties, were contributed to and purchased by the Santa Fe College Foundation to establish a major academic center in Starke. This $2.5 million asset includes a turn-of-the-century facility that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Renovation of the historic courthouse was the responsibility of the Foundation, which restored the interior to accommodate classrooms, laboratories, offices, a study room and student lounge. In addition to enhanced educational and cultural opportunities for all citizens of Bradford County, the Andrews Center is an integral part of downtown redevelopment and restoration.

In the spring of 1991 the Andrews Center Cultural Building, a century-old structure in downtown Starke, was renovated by private donations to the Foundation. The $700,000 renovation project provides the college and the community with a performing arts auditorium/theater seating 155 people, a facility for the Eugene L. Matthews Historical Museum, and additional classroom and office space for a growing Andrews Center.

 

 

 

 

 

Ron C. and Norita V. Davis Center (Archer)

In the fall of 2003 the Ron and Norita Davis and Family Davis Center opened to help people in the southwestern part of Alachua County and the surrounding Archer area to enroll in classes rather than having to journey 21 plus miles to the Northwest Gainesville campus. The center will promote advancement and enhancement of higher education and potential vocational training programs locally.

The more than 10,000 square foot facility includes six general classrooms, a computer lab, ITV classroom, a community boardroom, faculty and staff offices, and a community/common meeting room.

The Davis Center facility was made possible by Ron and Norita Davis and the Davis family, who made a substantial contribution of in-kind and property totaling approximately $500,000 (20 plus acres of land) and a $600,000 cash gift for a total of $1.1 million. A community-wide leadership of more than 26 individuals and organizations provided additional funding for the establishment of the Davis Center.

 

Lillian Stump Education Building (Starke)

In 2001, Miss Lillian Stump provided the lead gift to establish an educational building to enhance the Andrews Center in Starke, Florida. The community followed and funds were raised for the construction for a new building. Plans were to build near the high school to provide better access for dual enrolled students.

In the fall of 2002 the Lillian Stump Education Building opened to provide the Andrews Center with an approximately 4,000 square foot new facility that includes four major college classrooms plus faculty and staff office space. The Stump Education Building, a $400,000 project of the Foundation, enhances the Andrews Center's dual enrollment program with Bradford County High School and provides classroom space for college level courses, as well as community and continuing education classes.

The new Bradford County Library, opened in 2007 and is located across the street from the Lillian Stump Education Building, provides additional support for the students attending Santa Fe College in Starke.

 

 

Charles R. and Nancy V. Perry Center for Emerging Technologies (Alachua)

The Charles R. and Nancy V. Perry Center for Emerging Technologies is located in the City of Alachua and is scheduled to open for classes in fall 2009. This facility began in 2005 with a substantial contribution from Charles and Nancy Perry totaling more than $1.36 million. The community embraced the idea and raised an additional $2 million to assist with the construction.

The new 17,367 square foot facility includes two classrooms, a computer lab, biology lab, biotech lab, director's office, five faculty offices, conference room, clean lab, prep room and storage area. The center will promote the advancement of higher education in life sciences and health education as the home of the college's Associate of Science Biotechnology program and the new Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

 

Charles L. Blount Center (Gainesville)

In 1988 the City of Gainesville deeded the old train depot on NW 6th Street to the SFC Foundation for the purpose of establishing an educational center that would be accessible to those living in and around the downtown area. Renovation of the old train station was the responsibility of the Foundation. All funds for this project came from the private sector and involved the establishment of a major steering committee composed of approximately 20 business and community leaders who served as “ambassadors of good will” throughout the community.

In the spring of 1993 the SFC Foundation purchased the old Gainesville Gas Co. building located on the corner of NW 6th Street and West University Avenue. Renovation of the building was completed in the fall of 1993. The project provided the center an opportunity to expand student services and provide additional upper level classes to an increased student population.

In December 1993 the Downtown Center was named for Charles L. Blount, its major contributor and fundraiser with more than $3 million contributed to establish the center. Charles Blount and his wife Patsy established a $3 million scholarship program at the college. The Blount Center has several purposes:
•    To provide an outreach center and educational training facility for the citizens in the central Gainesville area
•    To provide training programs for major businesses, small businesses and industry in the downtown area
•    To provide training and educational programs for existing employees of the city and county government that occupy the downtown complex
•    To provide an opportunity for community meeting rooms at no cost to civic clubs, business and professional groups, and underserved populations

In 2005 the SFC East Gainesville Initiative and Community Outreach offices were relocated to the Charles L. Blount Center. In the following year Santa Fe’s offices for administering the Carl D. Perkins Education Act were also relocated to the center.

In the spring of 2006 the new Charles L. Blount General Classroom Building opened. It contains approximately 10,000 square feet, seven classrooms, an art classroom, a computer lab, a testing lab, offices for adult education and programs, and offices for faculty and academic advisors.

In fall 2006 the college made both interior and exterior upgrades to the old Gainesville Gas Co. building to develop SFC’s nexus for business and professional development. The Charles L. Blount Center for Innovation and Economic Development (CIED) opened in the spring of 2007. The CIED hosts the college’s Center for Business and the CIED incubator, and offers rental facilities supporting business innovation and training.

The SFC Center for Business provides short-term, non-credit “training for excellence” for people or companies desiring improvement of skills. The center houses the Center for Business and Industry, the Continuing Professional Education division, and the Computer Institute.

 

Alfred B. and Agnes W. Watson Center (Keystone Heights)

In January of 2005 the Alfred B. Watson, Sr. and Agnes W. Watson Center opened to promote the advancement of higher education for students in southeast Bradford County and the surrounding Keystone Heights-Lake Region area. The Watsons donated $3.4 million to make the facility possible. They also made a gift that resulted in the establishment of the $1.4 million permanently endowed Alfred B. Watson, Sr. and Agnes W. Watson Scholarship.

The Watson Center’s first building included six general education classrooms, a computer lab, community boardroom, faculty and staff offices, community/common meeting area and an office for the Bradford County constitutional officers and sheriff. The second building opened in January 2006 with six additional general education classrooms, faculty offices and a state-of-the-art science laboratory.

 

W. Harvey Sharron, Jr. Geological Studies Field Station (Newberry)

Santa Fe College's Geological Studies Field Station, located about four miles north of Newberry, has origins before there was such a thing as a student, has inhabitants who rarely see the light and a low utility bill because it's naturally air conditioned.

When the caves were dedicated in 2001, Mike Curry, SFC's director of development activities said, "The bat cave was a once in a lifetime opportunity to develop this kind of learning tool. It will be a wonderful learning experience for children as well as adults."

The cave is known to extend over a mile underground and is the only one owned by a community college in Florida. About 800-900 Santa Fe students will visit the cave every year, mostly students from geology and biology classes. The cave is open by appointment to groups of students from schools, colleges and universities as well as to government researchers.

Some visitors are less traditional. In the past, University of Florida law students toured the cavern to get firsthand looks at mineral rights that are often wrapped up in land transactions. The U.S. government has used the site to test ground penetrating radar.

Happenstance aided in Santa Fe's acquisition of the cavern. SFC natural sciences professors Jean Klein, Van Dubolsky and Michael Patrick had brought students to the site for years when they learned that its owner, Jefferson Smurfit Corp., was willing to sell.

In 1997 Harvey Sharron, who was Santa Fe's vice president for development at the time, contacted Jefferson Smurfit and the large wood products company donated the cave to the college. Other major donors in the development of the site are Painter Construction Corporation and Bell South.
Santa Fe was careful to preserve natural features and wildlife in the development of the site. A spiral staircase descends into the cavern and 75 degree year round temperatures. Other entrances are grated to protect people and allow bats to come and go. An above ground boardwalk enables visitors to look into the cave, and interpretive signs are planned.

A survey by the Florida Speleological Society discovered that the cave is at least 2,348 feet wide in an intricate, spider's web pattern ranging from large grottos to claustrophobic fissures. Visitors can see burnished gray limestone walls and the eerie shapes of rocks. Cool ponds ripple with the steady drip of water and provide homes to underground albino crayfish and fish.

There is evidence that Native Americans used the cavern before the arrival of Europeans. Santa Fe's natural sciences faculty estimates that the cave is much older, beginning to form at least by the Pleistocene Epoch that ended about 10,000 years ago and later turning into a cavern with the steady flow of slightly acidic water.

 

Spring Arts House (Gainesville)

In 1999, the Santa Fe College Foundation purchased the 1913 Graham House to provide a permanent facility for the Spring Arts Festival. This beautiful house at 636 Northeast First Street in downtown Gainesville was cited as one of the significant buildings in the creation of the historic Northeast district. Rehabilitation began in June of 1999, requiring more than $300,000 in historically based restoration, renovations, and reconstruction which was partly funded by a State of Florida historic preservation grant.

The house contains most of the original woodwork and structure built during the Arts and Crafts era of the late Victorian period. From the rare original heart pine wood floors and the Queen Anne windows to the traditional French clay tile roof, this remarkable house reflects the magnificence of the era. The grandiose staircase, converted sleeping porch and beautifully intricate fireplace provide a wonderfully detailed glimpse into the life that once existed here. Under the supervision of Phil Baker, general contractor, this house was beautifully and meticulously brought back to life.

The Arts and Crafts bungalow was opened in January 2003 providing an ideal location for Santa Fe Spring Arts which will display significant art exhibits throughout the year. The house also provides rental office space for arts organizations and a meeting and conference room. Numerous patron programs are also provided to our generous supporters including invitation events that will allow patrons to experience the fine arts in the unique setting of the historic Spring Arts House.