Photo provided by Daytona State College

On April 15, 2021, Daytona State College (DSC) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new student residence hall at the Daytona Beach campus. Construction plans call for a four-story building with accommodations for approximately 250 students. The project is planned for completion in August 2022. 

New Dorm Residences Coming to Daytona State College

According to a February news release, the new student dorms are located on the north side of campus. The new construction “will take the place of the old library and building 340, Davidson Hall.” Each building has been demolished to make room for the residence hall. There is also room for future construction of an additional building for student housing. The library has been relocated inside the on-campus Student Center.

The DSC Foundation, whose mission is to provide financial assistance to students and funding for critical needs beyond the scope of the college’s budget, helped with the cost of the project. According to a previously published news release, the cost of construction is $16.3 million. 

Since 2007, the DSC Foundation has owned, leased and operated off-campus housing for 110 student-athletes. DSC was able to offer the housing within the Whisper Oaks community, located on South Nova Road in Daytona Beach.The foundation sold over 20 townhomes to help with funding.

Other Housing Options for College Students

DSC’s website, DaytonaState.edu, provides students an “apartment guide” to communities within proximity to the college. Apartments near the college can be expensive to students as monthly rents range from $690 to $1675 depending on size and whether furniture is included. The on-campus housing plans to offer a competitively low rental cost.

The Florida College System, a network of 28 community colleges, state colleges and universities, states that housing for most institutions is predominately off-campus. Colleges were initially designed to accommodate commuter students. According to the Florida Department of Education, Florida law states on-campus housing must be provided by a separate entity. The Daytona State College Housing Corporation, established in 2019, was set up to own and operate the residence hall. 

Ammenities on Campus at Daytona State College

Students have many advantages to living on-campus including student life enrichment, access to campus resources and campus events. In 2019, the L. Gale Lemerand Student Center opened and is considered the “epicenter” of student life at DSC. A hub for academic support including the library and Writing Center, the L. Gale Lemerand Student Center serves student clubs and workforce-transition services, and provides a modernized space for food services. 

It also includes a one-stop resource center for career planning and job placement for students to explore career options, research job opportunities, create resumes, practice interview skills and how to dress and act professionally. Other features of the center include a student commons area, Mor’s Cafe, conference rooms, a large events center, an outdoor dining area, offices for student clubs and a gaming area.