What started as a small college, driven by innovation and progress, is now celebrating 100 years of growth.
With the help of dignitaries, faculty, staff and students, the University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) started its milestone year with a Centennial Celebration this past Wednesday at Jonathan and Melanie Antevy Hall. This event was an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to come together and get the centennial year started off right.
“A celebration like this lets us not just honor the past, but also imagine the future,” UF Interim President Kent Fuchs said.
The college, initially part of the College of Engineering as the School of Architecture in 1925, has since become its own entity, now serving more than 1,300 students.
Alyssa Greenspan, president of the DCP Ambassadors student group, discussed her experience as a fourth-year architecture student.
“DCP has opened me up to more opportunities and allowed me to come out of my shell in the real world and actually do things.”
Greenspan said DCP helped her overcome shyness and open up professionally. She landed an internship in St. Petersburg with the help of the alumni networkand highlighted the extensive work she contributed to various projects.
What makes DCP stand out from other colleges, Greenspan said, is the inclusivity and support. Everyone at DCP is willing to help create a supportive environment and community.
Also speaking at the event was Interim Associate Dean Dan Manley, who also serves as an instructional associate professor of landscape architecture. He reflected on his 25 years at DCP and his experience as a 2001 graduate of the college.
“The college [DCP], specifically, has shaped my life so greatly,” Manley said. “Personally, I met my wife here. Professionally, DCP has been so intertwined with my journey. We have fantastic facilities, a new building, and amazing students that are going to shape future generations. It is exciting to be part of that.”
Manley explained that as the design and planning industry evolves and grows more complex, the college emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking to address these challenges, which is supported by collaborative research conducted by both students and faculty.
The college looks forward to year-long celebrations with alumni and friends, with events held every month across the U.S. and a major Centennial celebration during UF’s Homecoming Week.
As the college looks ahead to the next century,Fuchs emphasized the importance of the college’s legacy and its future impact.
“We must reflect on the past and the people who have come before us,” Fuchs said. “We are creating and setting the groundwork for the next 100 years, making sure we’re building something excellent so those who come after us can build on that excellence.”
The key to innovation and leadership lies in the people of DCP, including the students, staff and faculty, Fuchs said.
