Florida Institute of Technology - Ad Astra Yearbook (Melbourne, FL)

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FIT wanted to build a Hydrospace Technological Institute. The oceanogra- phy department was growing frantically and plans for a sister school were being made. One projected site of the school was at Port Conaveral, but the Port Authority rejected this proposal. Many boats were being donated to the school at this time, one was donated by Nelson Rockefeller, the Dragon Lady. The Campbell Aviation Company was made possible by donations from Stuart Campbell. In September of 1968 a hall was dedicated to him. This was the fourth residence hall dedication. In January ’69 ground breaking for the future Wood Hall occurred. A month later plans for Roberts Hall were announced. The grant from HUD for Roberts came through in June 69. : In December of 1968 ground breaking of the one million dollar science tower took place. The Harlem Globetrotters did a benefit appearance, and officially opened the gym in February 1969. The opening of the gym was coupled with the dedication of the Denius Student Center. on ¢

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Svaewure couber 2 ebate avei rear aM 3S Peder Onatt Nem Otwck HAND RALL: CRONE Abney oteat pas hepeeene OO et ep ees Geom PADVATE GOMMI NO RY w FORLR WouRe TERMI ER CRETE PER EARUDMS kwD LRERANTOR KS + UNEVEN RET CENTERS PL ar w ese FLED. 8 ¢¥ikMI NS: MRE ss SEVENEL Weyl aeNe AD wAnAgewcny ceares WE Omak ewan ee SOM RE WRE HV ERR futciae Wei evene ie To nema y eg r AT UDERT Kew aise M8. eestaner OF 2 EAs) Srtheke sari acre é 12 cegtone ancurearcus pouwes s : “Gamerue 'LORIDA Bik. 8 oO Oe OR Ne “EN-YEAR GOAT. Eee eee ss Beginning in the calendar year of 66, computing was added to the BEC curriculum. A fund drive was also slated so construction of two dorms, a theater, the quad and a science building could begin. The third dorm was already started. Federal financing for the two dorms came in April of 1966. BEC was first referred to as Florida Institute of Space Technology in February 1966. In May plans for BEC looked as follows: start of a science tower, plans to expand dining facilities, a SUB, a fifth dorm, the second phase of the science building in 1967; and in 1968 an engineering build- ing, a new library wing, a field house, and a sixth dorm. In June of 1966 BEC received its official charter as FIT. INSTITUTE O Sele MAM F TECHNOLOG ¥ L Oo R I pb Gleason Auditorium was now on its way, but the science tower was still being planned. Along the way the science tower was planned as a five story building, a six story building, and finally its present day status as a seven story building. With the beginning of 1967 FIT could claim four quid buildings, three dorms, Shaw, North (Campbell), and South (Grissom); an almost completed audito- rium, and land now totaling 85 acres. South Hall became Grissom Hall in January 1967. The hall was named in honor of Gus Grissom who died along with Ed White, and Roger Chaffe in a fire during a simulated countdown at Cape Kennedy. In March of ’67 two problems were evident that would not be relieved until a time which still in the future. One problem was a 46:1 ratio of men to women, anc .ue other problem was a need for a new library. More expansion plans were announced in May 1967. The plans included a three story student union building which would house a cafeteria, a four-lane bowling alley, a game room, a snack bar, a lounge, a bookstore, student banking, ad- ministrative offices, a ball room, and postal facili- ties. Plans for gym were also announced. The SUB was started in August. With ae growing greek population, plans for a fraternity row were wanted, but defeated. The Aeronautics Technological School was slated in November 1967. The site picked at the time was Valkaria Airport. Ground breaking for the gym occured in July 1968. The Aeronautics Technological Institute choose Cape Kennedy Airport as its site when a donation was made to purchase Campbell Aviation. The science tower’s construction was delayed two months in September of ’68.

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In February 1969 FIT announced plans for the upcom- ing six years. In 1970 Wood Hall was to be built, followed by the another dorm in 1971, a new library, and art center, and an engineering building were also to be started. 1973 forsaw the beginning of Roberts. A Space Science Building was planned for 1973 fol- lowed by another dorm in 1974 and in 1975 a human- ities center and housing for married students were planned. The housing shortage has always been a problem. In the never ending search for housing the Tradewinds Hotel in Indialantic became Doherty Dorm for aero- nautics students. In August 69 the Hydrospace Technological Institute finally received a building and approval for locating at Port Canaveral. The institute taught meteorology, geological oceanography, mathematics, and mechan- ics. A 900,000 dollar federal loan was approved in Sep- tember 1969 for the future Roberts Hall. FIT bought the Tradewinds Hotel in December 1969. The Aeronautics Technological Institute made an of- ficial merger with FIT and become the School of Aeronautics. Construction on Roberts Hall began in 1970 and at the time had an advanced slab design. The first stu- dents used the then unnamed hall-in September of 1971. Half of the second floor at the time was used to house women. Fire at the Pike House destroyed a separate building near the house that had been used as a study hall. The science tower was dedicated The Crawford Sci- ence Tower in December 1971 for his efforts in rais- ing money for that structure. The Medical Research Institute was started in August 1971 by Dr. Ronald Jones. Initial studies were con- cerned with a cure for venerial disease. The Campus Ministry Center was opened in Septem- ber 20, 1971. The Harbor Branch Foundation opened the Marine Science Center near Ft Lauderdale in January 1972. Both a Bachelor and Master of science education degree programs were approved by the Florida De- partment of Education in February 1972. February, the FIT oceanographic unit joins the new Harbor Branch Foundation. The lab was described as a “major new marine biological laboratory, equipped for specialized research that will enlarge mankind’s knowledge of the oceans.”’ FIT filed suit against two architectural firms on the ground that there was a breach of contract concern- ing the completion of the science building. The col- lege listed defiencies as failure of the heating system to provide sufficient heat, failure of the cooling sys- tem, abnormal air pressure, and dust problems. The college asked judgement for damages in excess of 5,000 dollars. More than one hundred top international scientists from North and South America, Russia, and several European and Asian nations attended the ‘‘Confer- ence on the Core-Mantle Interface” at FIT. Three new degrees were added in July, August, and October of 1972. The degrees included a MS In bio- logical sciences, a BS in science education, and a BS in Ocean engineering, respectively. East Hall (Evans) was completed in August ’72.