The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE International Building at the Kipling Complex will soon be demolished to begin developing a new University of The Bahamas campus in Grand Bahama.

The four-story building, which comprises 35,000 sq. ft, is the largest of five buildings at the Kipling complex.

The International Building is one of five buildings at the complex UB acquired in the summer of 2023.

“We aim to transform the location into a vibrant university campus that will serve the needs of students, faculty, and staff, regenerate economic growth in downtown Freeport, and rejuvenate the communities that surround it,” the University of The Bahamas said in a statement.

Hurricane Dorian severely damaged the UB north campus in East Grand Bahama in 2019, leaving students, faculty, and staff operating out of temporary locations at the Bishop Michael Eldon School and the Teachers and Salaried Workers Cooperative Credit Union Building.

“We haven’t had a location of our own where we could host events, have day classes, or build the sort of energy that one expects on a college campus,” UB North campus President Dr Ian Strachan said.

“A lack of a central place of our own has made it difficult to provide our students with the full range of support services and facilities. Our community is eager to move to this new site, and we welcome this demolition as it signals the beginning of our transition.”

“Though the building has served as the headquarters for quite a number of key operations over the years, it has descended into disrepair. It will be razed, soon, to make way for a new structure and spark new growth opportunities,” said Dr Strachan.