Five Ways the Development of UCF Downtown Has Enhanced the FIEA Experience
August 29, 2024
In 2005, FIEA was one of the only programs downtown, 15 years before UCF Downtown’s official opening in August 2019. So how has the development of UCF Downtown over the past five years made an impact? Here are the top five ways:
1. Downtown Campus Housing Options
The development of UnionWest, Modera and the Julian at Creative Village now provide on-campus housing options for FIEA students who spend as much time at the downtown campus in their first three semesters as they would at a full-time job. With shuttle services to and from Main Campus and a weekly grocery shuttle, students now have options.
2. Increased Safety
With the increasing number of students, faculty and staff at UCF Downtown comes the increased presence of UCF Police and safety services available on campus. More emergency blue light phones have been installed campuswide, including on various floors of parking garages. Seeing officers across the campus daily and at special events has fostered a greater sense of security.
3. More Student Events
Student service groups like Downtown Student Life and the Multicultural Student Center have brought life and culture to downtown through free food truck events, resource fairs, social activities like painting, and more. Downtown students can participate in Foam Splash during Homecoming week where they can collect ducks, they can pick up Universal Knights tickets at UnionWest, and stay engaged in UCF student culture without having to travel to Main Campus.
4. Closer to the Games and Interactive Media undergraduate program
Having the undergraduate game design and development program in the same building as FIEA helps facilitate collaboration among faculty and programs. FIEA faculty often teach undergraduate classes in the GaIM program throughout the year, sharing knowledge and resources, strengthening the pipeline of talent from UCF to industry leaders like Electronic Arts, Iron Galaxy Studios, Microsoft Undead Labs, and others.
5. Parramore Community Engagement
UCF Downtown is situated at Creative Village, next to the historic Parramore district, home to Orange County Public Schools’ Academic Center for Excellence (OCPS ACE). FIEA Executive Director Ben Noel is no stranger to OCPS ACE and visits annually to speak to the K-8 students about the FIEA program and discuss job opportuities in the gaming and tech-related industries, just steps away. These efforts help to make the gaming industry and talent pipeline accessible to the Parramore community. The ACE students tour FIEA annually and participate in the Book Character Parade in the fall, promoting literacy and creativity from a young age.