Friday, August 29, 2025
By: Olivia Wilson
The University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning continued its yearlong centennial celebration Wednesday afternoon with a special event which brought together students, faculty and staff in the Jonathan and Melanie Antevy Hall Atrium. The gathering honored the college’s century-long legacy and its role in shaping Florida’s built environment through the college’s various disciplines.
“We started as a small department and have now grown into five strong academic units,” Dean Chimay Anumba said.
Over the past century, the college has expanded its programs and facilities to meet the needs of an evolving industry. The program also featured remarks from Associate Deans Ravi Srinivasan and Dan Manley, along with faculty members Nancy Clark, Jules Bruck, Robert F. Cox, Laura Dedenbach and Roberto Rengel, each reflecting on the college’s legacy and its future.
Students like freshman construction management major Gideon Johnston said being part of the centennial made Wednesday even more meaningful. “It feels good to be a part of something with history,” Johnston said. “I’m really happy that the Rinker School especially has ties to the job market and current field.”
For longtime faculty members, the centennial represented both reflection and pride. “I have been teaching here for 11 years,” said Sheila Bosch, associate professor and graduate coordinator for the Department of Interior Design. “We have such a rich tradition here at Florida, and I just feel so blessed to be a part of that.”
Looking ahead, she added, “I think we will be even bigger and even better and way in the forefront of what’s happening in the design, construction and planning fields.”
Other faculty echoed the importance of students in carrying the college’s mission forward. “The whole reason we are here is the students,” said Cox, the director of the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management. “They are the ones who will continue the legacy of this college into the next 100 years.”
Following the program, attendees mingled over food and cake while exploring a gallery timeline showcasing DCP’s history. The celebration closed with photos, conversation and a shared excitement for the college’s next century.
