The University sought to better utilize the entire city-block site once occupied only by the Center for Professional Development, as it was commonly known, to include not only a conferencing facility, but a 1,000 car parking facility; —all on a steeply sloping site. Barnett Fronczak Barlowe Architects met that challenge by producing an integrated design that took advantage of the sloping site by providing entry points to the garage on multiple sides, while maintaining a subservient relationship to the requirements of the grander Conference Center spaces.

The resulting building is a state-of-the-art conferencing facility serving the University and the community at large, with a variety of meeting and teaching spaces, all with convenient parking. At nearly 60,000 square feet, the FSU Conference Center houses space for the Academic & Professional Program Services Department of FSU. These spaces include a 350 seat Auditorium, Dining Room, Catering Kitchen, eight Breakout Rooms, Executive Board Room, Computer Classrooms, Staff Offi ces, and other support spaces. This LEED Silver* facility will feature hi-tech electronics for conferencing, teleconferencing, as well as web-based content, all designed to support the University’s conferencing needs for decades to come.