By B.C. Manion
It’s not slated to open until 2013-14, but the Pasco-Hernando Community College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass is already stirring excitement in Wesley Chapel.
The new campus will create an opportunity for Wesley Chapel children to attend kindergarten through college, noted J.D. Porter, whose family owns Wiregrass Ranch and donated the 60-acre tract for what will become PHCC’s fifth full-service campus.
When it opens, it is expected to be the college’s busiest campus based on population trends, according to Lucy Miller, director of marketing and public relations for the community college.
It also will be PHCC’s first completely LEED-certified campus. The acronym stands for Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design. LEED designations are awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The new campus is in a good location, Porter noted, pointing out its proximity to The Shops at Wiregrass, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch High and local businesses.
PHCC already offers dual enrollment courses at Wiregrass Ranch High, but the proximity may create even more educational opportunities for students.
Laura Miller, president of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, said the college would create a substantial number of jobs in the community — both during and after construction.
The local economy will benefit during construction as crews eat at local restaurants and buy goods from local retailers, she noted. But the long-term employment picture will brighten, too, she said, as the college hires teachers, administrators and support personnel to teach classes, administer programs and maintain the campus, she said.
The college expects to have about 30 employees at the campus, which will have an estimated enrollment of an equivalent of 700 full-time students.
A cost estimate is not yet available for the project, but college officials said the building will be a multi-story structured designed to be compatible with existing and planned development nearby.
Florida Architects Inc. designed the building, incorporating suggestions from a 20-member design committee appointed by PHCC. The committee included administrators, faculty, staff and a student representative.
Campus programs will combine the latest in high-tech trends along with a traditional focus on teaching and learning, college officials say. The curriculum is designed to prepare students to enter the workforce, continue their postsecondary education or both.
The project’s funding will not be affected by budget cuts, but the final appropriation may be delayed which may impact the opening of the college by about four month, college officials say.
Construction on the project is expected to begin this summer.
Porter said his family was pleased to donate the land for the campus.
“It’s going to be a nice addition,” he said. “Education has always been extremely important to everyone in our family.”
