Manatee County Approves Construction For New Technical Institute Campus

The Manatee County School Board has approved the construction of a new campus for the Manatee Technical Institute. The campus will be located on 30 acres off State Road 70 in Bradenton and will replace the 50-year-old campus on 34th Street.

The $41 million project allows for a state-of-the-art facility that will house all of the institute's programs under one roof.

While the building will not be LEED certified, it will have several green aspects. "We will use as many green materials, systems and designs as we can," says Mike Bryant, principal architect at Fawley Bryant. "It's about being good stewards of the earth but also building healthy buildings using certified green products.

"Some of the easy things we will do include using low VOC paints and furniture so when you walk into the building you won't smell it. We will also use highly insulated glass and shading devices on the windows, high-efficiency air conditioning systems and task-oriented lighting devices to reduce energy used. And we can install low-flow toilets, an efficient irrigation system and landscaping that requires less watering."

Bryant adds that Manatee Schools has committed to using a photovoltaic roof that makes the most of the sun's energy. "The technology has evolved to where the sheets are more flexible and house a photovoltaic system that is easier and less expensive to install," he says.

A key design feature is a multipurpose space that will open to a 170-seat teaching auditorium and provide a complete line of sight into most labs through large expanses of glass. Classrooms and labs will facilitate classes in culinary arts, cosmetology, construction, machining, drafting, welding and IT.

Construction is expected to start in March 2011 and be completed by January 2013.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Mike Bryant, Fawley Bryant