Daytona State College opens residence hall to raves from students; waiting list tops 800

DAYTONA BEACH — Madison Tenore, a student-athlete at Daytona State College, got her first look at her future home, a $16 million residence hall, the first on the Daytona Beach campus.

She was among more than 200 people to tour the four-story hall Thursday at a ribbon-cutting event that's been years in the making.

"Like wow, I'm going to live somewhere that's brand new and right there on campus where everything is in walking distance," Tenore said.

Recruited to Daytona State from her hometown of Destin, Tenore is a member of the national championship-contending women's golf team. She said the new dorm was part of the reason she chose Daytona State.

The hall houses 252 students, and college President Tom LoBasso said there's a waiting list of more than 800 and, as of Thursday, just six beds left to fill. As a scholarship student-athlete, Tenore has already claimed her spot when the fall semester starts in August.

DSC dorms: Daytona State College's new dorms will soon be under construction. Who will live there?

A smaller group of students attending summer classes will be the first to move into the building starting on June 29.

"I love it. I liked the common areas," Tenore said. "They're big and have a lot of seating where you can hang out with other people, get to know them. The dorms, granted, they're a bit small, but they're nice and cozy."

Student Stanley Souverain, a health science student about two years into his pursuit of a bachelor's degree, said he was thinking about applying for a room.

"I'm not 100% yet if I'm going to (live) here yet, but walking around, after seeing everything here, I'm definitely considering dorming here in the fall," Souverain said. "Man, you just see the vibrant colors. Everything is beautiful in there. You can smell the newness. … It's beautiful."

LoBasso said the college had to consider lots of issues in moving forward with a residential component to the longtime commuter college, such as establishing quiet hours, fitness center usage policies, and ensuring dining facilities will be open for dinner and weekends. The school also hired a residential life coordinator.

"When it was first introduced about five years ago in the master plan, all of our studies showed that student demand would accommodate an on-campus residence hall," LoBasso said. "Fast forward to 2022, and the news is filled with headlines of housing shortages and soaring rental costs that are squeezing out college students. In this climate, it's more important than ever that we offer students an affordable housing option and stay true to our mission for providing open access for a college education for everyone."

The largest number of residents are from Volusia County, 194, followed by Flagler County, with 43. Applicants are also being made from students in other states — New York, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, Colorado and Texas — while 14 international students have applied, including five from Japan, LoBasso said.

New DSC dorms conveniently placed on campus

School officials anticipate student housing will increase student retention, with the library, Writing Center, Academic Support Center and Career Services all within walking distance.

Randy Howard, chair of the DSC Board of Trustees, called the building a "stunning success."

"The building truly complements the architecture and beauty of the campus and helps take Daytona State College to the next level," he said.

"This idea, this project, has been in the works for a long time and we owe a lot to those board members who helped to plant the seeds well before my time on the board," Howard said.

The project was completed through the Daytona State College Foundation and the newly established DSC Housing Corporation.

"These students who choose to live here are making a bold statement and will bring new energy to our college," said Garry Lubi, a trustee and chair of the Housing Corporation. "They are excited to come to Daytona State to get their degree and they are eager to be part of the new Falcon experience."

Never miss a story: Subscribe to The Daytona Beach News-Journal using the link at the top of the page.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: DSC unveils first residence hall as students seek affordable housing