With 70% of Legacy Hall's building construction finished, the $160 million project is slated to be complete by August 30 - which remains on schedule - despite challenges such as severe storms in the capital city during the construction.
"We think Legacy Hall will make Tallahassee and the state of Florida proud," College of Business Dean Michael Hartline said in a prepared statement sent to the Tallahassee Democrat.
"We see it as a dream come true, as a world-class facility for a world-class business school and as a showcase facility that will spark countless more fulfilling careers in the decades to come."
Legacy Hall will be the largest academic space on FSU's extended campus from its location at West Gaines Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
The university broke ground on the site in October 2022 and Culpepper Construction, a Tallahassee-based company, has been working with Boston architect Goody Clancy to build the future facility.
This year, a string of EF-2 tornadoes in May as well as the threats from two major hurricanes, Helene and Milton in September and October, led the workers to make some interior drywall repairs and dismantle an onsite crane twice before continuing.
But overall, the site was fortunate due to proactive measures employed by the construction team, according to an FSU spokesperson.
'Stunning new home' will cost $160 million
The Legacy Hall project started as a $65 million new-building campaign in 2013 and was originally expected to break ground in fall 2016 before its completion in fall 2018.
But with the timeline having a significant dependence on funding, the start date was then pushed back to the second half of 2019 with an anticipated grand opening date in fall 2021, all before its eventual groundbreaking in 2022.
The building was estimated to cost at least $130 million during the groundbreaking two years ago, but it currently has a more specific project budget of $160 million.
Government funding has covered a significant chunk of the project as Governor Ron DeSantis's approval of a 2021-2022 state budget included a $30.5 million allocation for Legacy Hall.
With previous funding that came from the state's 2017-2018 budget where $5 million went toward the College of Business building, and the 2018-2019 budget with $8.5 million more, FSU received total state-funded support of $44 million for the construction.
In FSU's $3 million 2024-2025 operating budget, the Legacy Hall project is the second priciest initiative on FSU's capital projects list with an approved allocation of $75 million, coming after a $141 million allocation for Doak Campbell Stadium seating enhancements.
In addition, approximately 200 private donors contributed to Legacy Hall as of mid-December.
"We're thrilled to see the amazing progress of our stunning new home, which now bears the look of artist renderings from what seems so long ago," Hartline said.
"It's the product of years of dedication from college, university and state government officials and generosity from so many of our alumni, friends and donors."
With the substantial completion of Legacy Hall in summer 2025, the startup of major building systems - including electrical and mechanical features - is anticipated in late January, and the business school's first classes are planned to be held in the building in January 2026.