New branch campus makes educational opportunities accessible to residents of Walton County.

 

This satellite campus of Niceville-based Northwest Florida State College had been in planning stages for more than 15 years, with DAG responsible for the initial master plan as well as the design of the first campus buildings.  The South Walton Center campus focuses on business classes relating to the hospitality industry that is the main economic engine in the area.  This first built phase of the campus covers 16 acres of the 30-acre site and includes 6,000 SF of classroom instructional space, a 1,300 SF computer lab, and a 3,600 SF administration building and corporate training center.  A designated office and lab area for the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance was also built;  this organization is active in environmental initiatives such as the preservation of the rare coastal dune lakes found in the region.   Covered walkways connect the buildings and their exterior courtyards, creating a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly campus reflecting the college’s interest in the preservation of the natural environment.  The dense and energy-efficient complex of buildings can be easily expanded to accommodate the future growth planned for the campus.   Architectural influences of the distinctive Florida vernacular style are evident in the design of the new campus buildings.

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AWARDS

 

Merit Award of Excellence for New Work

AIA Florida Northwest, 2010