Florida Gateway College Cuts the Ribbon On the New Quinn & Keith Leibfried STEM Building
Posted July 1, 2022 06:25 am
The ribbon cutting was all smiles as Keith
Liebfried cut the ribbon with local
officials and family looking on. Photo by
Stephen Culotti, FGC
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Yesterday morning, a crowd of approximately 300 gathered in the heart of Florida Gateway College's main campus to witness the ribbon cutting and dedication of the new Quinn & Keith Leibfried STEM building.
Photo by Stephen Culotti, FGC
The two-story structure is a 26,440 square-foot a state-of-the-art facility focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. This is the home of an all-new chemistry lab, microbiology lab, physics, and earth science lab, and biology and botany lab.
In addition to the labs, the building also features four math classrooms, 12 faculty offices, the Dean of Academic Affairs Office, and multiple multipurpose and collaboration spaces for students.
The project is the first new building on the Main Campus of FGC since 2011 and was funded by a combination of state budget funds and donations through the Foundation for Florida Gateway College.
Keith Leibfried address the assembly. Photo
by Stephen Culotti, FGC
The building was constructed in a joint venture between Culpepper and Gray Construction and designed by Orlando-based architectural firm DLR Group.
The building is named for Quinn and Keith Leibfried. The late Quinn Leibfried spent thirty-four years educating and supporting students in nearby Suwannee County. The naming honors her passion for education.
Keith Leibfried is Chairman of the Board of First Federal Bank. He first joined First Federal in 1974. In 1981, he became the President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board. Under his leadership, First Federal has grown from $10 million to over $2 billion in assets with more than 700 employees.
Guest speakers at the event included FGC Board of Trustees Chair David Crawford, State Senator Jennifer Bradley, State Representative, and FGC Trustee Chuck Brannan, First Federal's Keith Leibfried, and FGC President Dr. Lawrence Barrett.
State Senator Jennifer Bradley. Photo by
Stephen Culotti, FGC
Highlighting
the importance of STEM education and the
importance of the addition of the Quinn and
Keith Leibfried STEM building to FGC’s
inventory, Senator Bradley said, “This
building, and this collaborative effort on
the part of so many individuals, is going to
make futures bright.”
After formal remarks, attendees toured the facility, including classrooms, collaboration spaces, and cutting-edge biology, botany, and chemistry labs.
The Quinn & Keith Leibfried STEM Building will welcome FGC students in the fall 2022 semester.
Stephen Culotti is FGC's public information officer