Veritas, Vol. 30, No. 06, February 1990

              FEBRUARY 1990 • VOLUME 30 • NUMBER 6 • FOR THE FACULTY AND STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Continuing Studies opens Miami Beach Center
In serendipitous acknowledgement of the first month of a new decade, the University of Miami inaugurated its new Miami Beach Center during ceremonies held January 11.
Located in the newly renovated, historic Old City Hall in the midst of the Art Deco District, the Miami Beach Center is an extension of the School of Continuing Studies and the third off-campus center for the University, along with the Koubek Center in Little Havana and the University of Miami/
James L. Knight International Center in downtown Miami.
The Miami Beach Center will reach out to the more than 2,500 University alumni living and working on Miami Beach, as well as other Miami Beach residents who wish to pursue their education, both on a credit and noncredit basis.
“Miami Beach is a unique place in the history of South Florida,” says Carol D. Holden, dean of the School of Continuing Studies. “Its traditions are timeless, yet constantly evolving, resulting in a lively and vibrant mix of cultures and peoples. Our new Miami Beach Center will reach out to all the citizens of this unique community. We hope that by providing high quality education, the University of Miami can become an integral part of the future of Miami Beach.”
Incorporated in 1915, Miami Beach this year celebrates its 75th birthday and successful achievement of its “New Beginning” campaign. New attitudes and significant financial investments have resulted in bold changes and projects, including the revitalization of the South Beach area and the resoration of Old City Hall.
An official part of the National Register of Historic Places, Old City Hall was the first building constructed after the devastating hurricane of 1926 razed most of South Florida. Now newly restored, Old City Hall becomes a new symbol: the landmark structure of the massive financial and physical revitalization of Miami Beach.
An intensive fund-raising effort in 1988 by Miami Beach City officials, led by Mayor Alex Daoud, helped finance the conversion of Old City Hall’s interior to classrooms and offices.
The University began its first formal partnership with Miami Beach during the post-World War II era, but University connections to the Beach extend back to its inception. J. C. Penney (founder of the department store) and Joseph H. Adams (a descendant of President John

the nine-story building. The ground floor serves as a conference center and reception/registration area. Floors three through six provide assembly and lecture halls for 60-100 students, classrooms for 30-60 students, a large performance/art studio, a computer lab, and faculty and staff offices.
“A series of multipurpose spaces with movable partitions will enable teachers and staff to tailor their classrooms and lecture halls to their changing needs, so that this facility will never become obsolete,” says architect Markus Frankel.
Classes in the new Miami Beach Center began in late January, with initial course offerings in the areas of Judaic studies, management, intensive languages, and studies in popular culture. Future offerings will include courses from the Bachelor of Continuing Studies degree program, microcomputer training, and additional credit and noncredit courses, according to Center Director Kathryn Reiter.
— Victoria Stuart
The Miami Beach Center is housed in five floors of Old City Hall. There is a conference center; reception and registration area, lecture halls, a large performance/art studio, a computer lab, and faculty and staff offices.
Adams) were two Miami Beach winter residents who dedicated themselves to the early idea of a University of Miami. The Miami Beach Board of Realtors and the Chamber of Commerce helped raise funds to finance the fledgling University.
And the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science had its origins on the Beach; an empty boathouse on the late Joseph Adams’ estate was converted into its first waterfront laboratory.
“The University of Miami and the City of Miami Beach share much common history,” said President Edward T. Foote II. “As Miami Beach enters the next decade, it is appropriate that one of its most historic architectural monuments has been dedicated as a site for the education of its citizens. The University of Miami is honored to call Old City Hall its new Miami Beach Center.”
The Miami Beach Center operates five floors of
It's time to order commencement regalia
All faculty and administration ar e invited to participate in the annual commencement program, which will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 11, 1990, on the Coral Gables campus.
Regalia may be ordered free of charge through the bookstore on the Coral Gables campus. Orders should be made as soon as possible to ensure receiving the correct regalia. The deadline for ordering is February 16. All questions should be directed to Ed Moehle, 284-4616, at the bookstore.