Innovative Education in Downtown Orlando
UCF Downtown is a world-class 21st-century campus for digital media, communication, business, public service, and health-related programs in an innovative, urban environment.
In partnership with Valencia College, the campus serves more than 7,000 students in the heart of downtown Orlando. In addition to academics, UCF Downtown offers students a complete campus experience with student housing, dining, recreation, wellness, volunteer and service opportunities, as well as student clubs and organizations.
Downtown Classrooms
Flexible and Technology Enhanced Classrooms
Led by the Office of Instructional Resources, the furniture and technology in downtown campus classrooms helps facilitate active learning. Research supports that active learning strategies improve student learning outcomes.
UCF is moving to a model where all classrooms can better support active learning methods of teaching. Active learning is not a technology, nor a furniture solution. Active learning is a teaching practice facilitated with technology and furniture, but at its core is achieved through the activities practiced in the space by faculty and students.
All of the furniture is mobile, including the instructor podium, and there is a projector in every room.
The classrooms at UCF Downtown are designed to feel familiar while also encouraging a variety of teaching practices:
All of the furniture is mobile, including the instructor podium. The in-room computer can be controlled with a wireless mouse and keyboard allowing the faculty member or presenter to be anywhere in the classroom.
An optional wireless collaboration system called Intel Unite is available at UCF Downtown. The system allows you to bring a personal device (phone, tablet, or laptop) and mirror the desktop to the computer in the room. This means you can have a computer in every class that already has your applications, documents, and other personalization preferences set up the way you want them, every time, every course, every semester.
The multimedia equipment is smaller and in a corner, out of the way of the students and faculty so that almost the entire room becomes usable floor space for teaching and learning activities.
There are multiple whiteboards throughout the room.
There is a projector in every room, just as there are in existing classrooms. Some rooms have additional monitors on the other walls that will mirror the content on the projector. No matter how the furniture is arranged or where the student looks they will be able to see the content.
All of the conference rooms have a large flat-panel monitor and a device on the conference table that will allow for connecting to the display.
All rooms are designed the same way so that no matter who uses the room everyone has a consistent experience across the entire campus.
Buildings
Students enrolled at UCF Downtown have access to the latest technology, unparalleled academic advising and student support, and countless opportunities to gain industry and practical experience within minutes of the campus.
From Concept to Construction
Former UCF President John Hitt announced the university’s decision to establish a downtown Orlando campus during the UCF Focus Breakfast in September 2014.
Since then, the university created the UCF Downtown committees, which spent more than a year exploring everything from student services and educational programs to transportation and facilities. The project was approved by the Florida Board of Governors in 2016, and design and build teams were selected that summer. Construction began in downtown Orlando in Summer 2017. The campus officially opened in August 2019, with housing, parking and dedicated transportation to and from UCF’s main campus.
Dr. Phillips Academic Commons
About Dr. Phillips Academic Commons
Dr. Phillips Academic Commons features four stories of active learning spaces, including classrooms, the downtown library, study and tutor spaces, a moot court, and academic offices. The building is a state-of-the-art learning facility that overlooks Creative Village’s Luminary Green Park, a green space for outdoor concerts and events.
Project Team:
- Architect: Robert AM Stern / SchenkelShultz
- Contractor: Skanska
- Project Cost: $66M
photos of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons
UCF Communication and Media Building
About Communication and Media Building
The UCF Communication and Media Building (formerly Center for Emerging Media) is home to the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, the Center for Research and Education in Arts, Technology, and Entertainment (CREATE), and other academic and innovative programs. CMB continues to be an academic hub for the campus. Prior to the campus opening, CMB underwent renovations to reflect 21st-century learning environments and is the new academic home to students, faculty and staff in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media.
Project Team:
- Architect: Schenkel Schultz Architecture
- Project Cost: $5.75M
UCF Parramore Parking Garage
About the UCF Parramore Parking Garage
The 580 space, four-story garage includes license plate recognition technology, security cameras, real-time space counts by floor and electric charging stations.
Project Team:
- Architect: Walker Parking Consulting and C.T. Hsu + Associates Architects
- Contractor: PCL Construction
- Project Cost: $14.6M
UnionWest at Creative Village
About Unionwest at creative village
UnionWest at Creative Village is a privately developed, 15-story building with more than 600 beds for student housing on the top floors. The lower levels have retail and academic learning space, including Valencia College’s Walt Disney School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality. A parking garage for housing students and visitors to the campus is also attached to the building.
Project Team:
- Architect: Baker Barrios Architects and CannonDesign
- Contractor: Batson-Cook
- Owner: Ustler Development, Inc. and DEVEN
photos of unionwest at creative village
Tours
Visit UCF downtown
Tours are offered each month on select Friday mornings. Available tour dates will be shown as options on the Office of Undergraduate Admissions registration site.
Campus tours begin at First Stop in UnionWest at Creative Village with a 30-minute information session, followed by a 90-minute walking tour of the campus led by a downtown student ambassador. This tour does not include a preview of UnionWest Student Living. You may schedule a tour of the housing community by making an online appointment. Campus tours are limited in size, please sign up early.
Want to know exactly what you’ll see or where to eat while on your tour? Head to our FAQ page for more details.
WiFi
how to connect to your downtown campus wifi
UCF and Valencia College students, faculty and staff have access to fast and convenient Wi-Fi at the downtown campus. Follow the steps below to connect your electronic devices to the network for the best wireless experience:
UCF USERS
Step 1: Open your Wi-Fi setting and select DTCampus as the network
Step 2: Log in using your NID and NID password
VALENCIA USERS
Step 1: Open your Wi-Fi setting and select DTCampus as the network
Step 2: Log in using your Downtown Atlas ID and password
GUESTS
Step 1: Open your Wi-Fi setting and select DTCAMPUS-Guest as the network
Step 2: On the window that appears, select the link at the bottom that reads “Need to register for guest access?”
Step 3: Provide the information requested in the registration form and select “register”. You will receive an email and a text message with your login credentials.
Step 4: Sign on using the email provided and four-digit password sent to you
Step 5: After accepting the terms and conditions, you will have access to the Wi-Fi network for 18 hours. Once the time limit is up, you will have to obtain a new temporary login password using steps 1–4 in order to gain access again.
If you have trouble connecting to the network, please contact UCF IT 407-823-5117.
Reservations
Reserve space on campus
UCF Downtown provides access to campus spaces for students, staff, faculty, alumni and the community.
Our campus features modern facilities and state-of-the-art technology throughout campus classrooms, meeting space and large event rooms. Most rooms offer a variety of setups with comfortable furniture and presentation equipment for meetings of all sizes.
Current students, faculty and staff can reserve group study rooms for same-day scheduling using a touch panel outside of each room. Meeting rooms may also be reserved by current students, faculty and staff by sending a calendar appointment through Microsoft Outlook.
Classrooms and Specialty Meeting Spaces are available to students, faculty, staff, community members, businesses and organizations, and must be scheduled in advance through the Special Request Form.
For additional details on how to reserve space at UCF Downtown, please view the Space Reservation Process and Guidelines document.
SPACE RESERVATION PROCESS AND GUIDELINES (PDF)
Room rates may apply to non-UCF affiliated businesses and organizations. Please download the Room Rate PDF below for more details.
Ready to reserve a space?
Need more help reserving a room? You can also email dtscheduling@ucf.edu for assistance.