Upcoming facility for homeless men
Thanks to $6.6 million in capital funding support from the City of Orlando and Orange County Government, construction of the new Men's Service Center (MSC) is underway on the Coalition’s main Central Boulevard campus. This upcoming two-story, residential facility will serve one of the most underserved segments of the homeless population: homeless men. It will replace the Men’s Pavilion and is expected to be open in summer 2013.
The diligence of City and County staff, as well as the in-kind, pro-bono assistance of Tim Baker of Baker Barrios Architects, Inc. and Glenn Fournier of Fournier & Associates, Inc. enabled the Coalition to move through the design, project management, tri-party agreement, permitting, and contractual milestones to begin construction of this long-awaited facility on January 23, 2012. Powell Design Group, Inc. is the architect of record and APM Construction Corporation is the contractor for this facility. Orange County is managing the construction.
Through its present and future community partnerships, the Coalition plans to offer much-needed case management and supportive services for up to 250 men in the new facility and to raise the level of assistance for specialized populations, such as the physically disabled, military veterans, and First Steps Substance Abuse Recovery Program clients.
Current Progress
A ceremonial groundbreaking took place on Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:00 am, with about 200 community and government leaders, Board members, clients and media in attendance. The site changed rapidly, as dirt mounds were leveled, the new retention pond wall was poured, and re-bar and building footers were strategically placed. In May, the contractor began pouring 42 “tilt wall” panels - or sandwiched slabs of concrete – on the horizontal. The panels, which together form the exterior walls of the 33,000 sq. ft. facility, had to be stacked upon each other three high because of the tight working space.
On August 7, 2012, the contractor began hoisting the tilt walls into place, using the mammoth crane that was delivered on six tractor-trailers and assembled the day before. Within a matter of days, the new building took shape before everyone’s eyes. With this long-time dream really coming true, the Coalition has turned its sights to the financial operating support needed for the important work of transforming lives, most of which will come from our generous, philanthropic community as part of the Journey Home Campaign’s Men’s Service Center Initiative.
Click here to see a chart of current and future services.
 |
