BBI partnered with the Gainesville Housing Authority to renovate and revitalize a long-vacant building into the new ELITE Force Training Center, a workforce development facility designed to provide education, job training, entrepreneurship resources, and career advancement opportunities for residents and the broader Gainesville community.
The project transformed a former daycare facility that had served primarily as storage and maintenance space for more than a decade into a modern training and educational environment aligned with the Housing Authority’s mission of helping individuals and families build pathways toward economic mobility and long-term success.
THE CHALLENGE
Transforming an aging facility into a modern community resource.
The Gainesville Housing Authority envisioned transforming a long-underutilized building into the new ELITE Force Training Center. A workforce development facility designed to provide education, job training, entrepreneurship resources, and career advancement opportunities for residents and the broader Gainesville community.
The existing building required far more than cosmetic improvements. In addition to a complete interior renovation, the project uncovered structural deficiencies within the original masonry construction that required engineering evaluation and corrective repairs before work could continue. At the same time, the facility needed entirely new building systems, accessibility improvements, and a modernized exterior that reflected its new purpose.
More than a renovation, the project represented an investment in the future of the surrounding community.
THE BBI APPROACH
Delivering a complete building transformation.
BBI partnered closely with the Gainesville Housing Authority to renovate the former daycare facility into a modern training and education center designed to serve the community for years to come.
The renovation included:
- Selective demolition and complete interior reconstruction
- Structural repairs to reinforce the existing masonry building
- Complete roof replacement with new gutters and downspouts
- Custom-engineered metal awnings and breezeway gates
- New Nichiha architectural panels, MEG siding, and exterior stucco systems
- Complete replacement of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems
- New rooftop HVAC equipment and electrical service
- Underground utility coordination with GRU for new electrical and sanitary connections
- New ceilings, flooring, windows, doors, and interior finishes
- Sidewalk and entry reconstruction with ADA accessibility improvements
- Parking lot repairs, sealing, and restriping
Through disciplined planning and close coordination with engineers, utility providers, and Housing Authority leadership, BBI modernized the facility while addressing unforeseen structural conditions and preparing the building for its new role as a community resource.
PROJECT OUTCOMES
A facility built to support opportunity, education, and economic mobility.
The completed ELITE Force Training Center provides flexible space for workforce development, business training, entrepreneurship programs, and educational partnerships with organizations including Santa Fe College and the University of Florida TREEO Center.
Beyond the physical improvements, the project transformed a long-vacant building into a community asset that supports education, workforce development, and economic mobility for Gainesville residents.
