Caribbean University is expanding its Bayamón campus through a construction project backed by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to replace facilities damaged by Hurricane Maria. The project will add three new structures surrounding a University Plaza: a nearly 600-seat amphitheater, exhibition spaces, a cafeteria, a nursing and first-aid facility, and a gymnasium with showers and locker rooms.
Construction is expected to take about two years, with between 100 and 110 workers projected to be on site simultaneously at peak activity, according to Francisco Villavicencio, partner and project director at Villavicencio & Associates Construction. University President Ana E. Cucurella Adorno said the expansion aims to modernize campus infrastructure, strengthen academic and cultural programming, and create additional opportunities for community engagement.
The new plaza will host student activities, fairs, and educational and cultural events for residents of Bayamón and neighboring municipalities, with some activities scheduled for evenings and weekends. Founded in 1969, Caribbean University operates campuses in Bayamón, Carolina, Vega Baja and Ponce.