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Once complete, the BCC and FAU buildings joined seamlessly. The two institutions have gone on to successfully partner on other projects.

The Downtown Center sits in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. The larger building in the foreground is the Fort Lauderdale News building. Next to it is the Governor's Club Hotel, razed to provide the site for the joint FAU/BCC Higher Education Center, which was dedicated in 2001.

BCC's presence in Hollywood was established in 1970 at the Hollywood Center, at 3601 Johnson Street, in a building leased from next-door neighbor Memorial Hospital.

Hallandale real estate developer Ralph R. Bailey devoted a significant portion of his estate to projects that supported community improvement. One million dollars of the Bailey estate was provided to BCC for construction of a concert hall and theatre.

The Bailey Estate's donation was matched with $2 million from the Community Educational Facilities Act of 1975, sponsored by then state senator Bob Graham. Ground was broken in November 1979. In this photo, Dr. Adams addresses the crowd at the groundbreaking ceremonies.

Dr. Adams leads a tour for visiting dignitaries of the $6-million facility during construction.

The Ralph R. Bailey Concert Hall has grown to become the focal point for the performing arts in southwestern Broward County.

In October 1979, the 1,200-set performing arts center was dedicated. Each seat has clean sight lines and excellent sound.

Dr. Adams and District Board of Trustees Chairman Judson A. Samuels are pictured here at the dedication of the Criminal Justice Institute on Central Campus in 1972. Now called the Public Safety Institute, the center trains all of Broward County's law-enforcement officers.

The Criminal Justice Institute has grown to become a complete facility for training all of Broward's law enforcement personnel.