Final beam readied for Santa Fe College’s new Cellon Institute

Press release from Santa Fe College

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – College officials, invited faculty and guests, as well as leadership and employees of Parrish McCall Constructors will gather at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, for a “Topping Out” celebration to formally mark a significant milestone in the construction of the college’s new technology building. 

About six months after construction began on the Ralph W. Cellon Jr. Institute for Skilled Trades and Advanced Manufacturing on the Northwest Campus, the final beam will be put in place. 

To mark the occasion, each invited guest will have the opportunity to sign the beam. 

There also will be remarks by Santa Fe College President Dr. Paul Broadie II and Bill Pearson, President of Parrish McCall Constructors, among others. The event will feature a blessing of the tradespeople. 

Following the formal ceremony, at 2:30 p.m. all other Santa Fe College faculty, staff, and students will be invited for a first look at the new facility, which has been steadily rising at the corner of NW 91st Street and North Road, across from the SF Gymnasium. 

Scheduled to open in Fall 2025, the Cellon Institute will allow for expansion of key trades programs in Welding and HVAC, as well as the addition of an Engineering Technology Advanced Manufacturing degree program, which also has a specialization in semiconductors. 

The facility is critical to allowing the College to meet current and future workforce needs. 

“This is an exciting opportunity to provide our students and faculty with a state-of-the-art instructional space for the trades,” Broadie said. “This facility will enhance our ability to address the talent pipeline for the trades, double our capacity in HVAC and Welding, and add a new degree program in the production of semiconductors. The Cellon Institute will help expand the trades, strengthen our economy, and support Florida’s goal of leading the way in workforce development. And because he has been a champion of the trades since the inception of our college, there can be no better tribute than to name the facility after Ralph Cellon.” 

The 33,725 square foot facility will have 24,216 square feet of air-conditioned space and 9,508 of covered exterior teaching lab space. 

Pearson said Parrish McCall has been proud to partner with Santa Fe College “on many successful projects throughout our 60-year history in Gainesville. This project is uniquely aligned with Parrish McCall’s mission to improve our community and strengthen our construction trades. The Cellon Institute directly achieves both of these goals in a sustainable and future-focused approach. We are grateful to work with the local tradespeople and design team for our top-ranked Santa Fe College.” 

The facility is being named in honor of Ralph W. Cellon Jr., a longtime supporter and board member of the college.