A Lasting Legacy: ITS Through the Years

FSU ITS has always been passionate about collaboration, technology and teamwork- from the 1970s to 2025. 

In 1973, the Centrex building was constructed to house this mechanical “crossbar” switch providing campus telephone users with the ability to direct dial their calls. Once online, there was no longer a need for campus switchboard operators, located at the time in Cawthon Hall, to assist in dialing phone numbers. Equally important during the construction phase was the installation of the outside plant conduit system which would route the copper cables from each campus building back to a main distribution frame within the new Centrex building. The system received rotary dial pulses to connect calls to and from campus, functioning entirely through electromechanical technology of the day. 

The original crossbar switch occupied a whole floor.

With this technology out of date by 1988, the Centrex building underwent two major changes. The first was the decommissioning of the old mechanical switch, and the second was renaming the building as the Robert K. Shaw building (RSB). The building was dubbed the Office of Telecommunications where newly hired and seasoned employees would signify the beginning of FSU’s central management and maintenance of all telecommunications devices and infrastructure. During the 1988 Labor Day weekend, a modern digital switch system was serviced after months of testing and other preparations. Additional switching nodes were placed throughout the FSU Tallahassee campus and Innovation Park. With this new system in place, employees now had their own personal direct telephone number. As for students, there was an atrium built where dorm residents could sign up for cable service, voicemail and other calling features. 

Network Architect Mark Purvis began working in RSB in the 197 when the mechanical crossbar switch was still in commission. Now, he stands as one of the few remaining employees who have seen the transformation of ITS over the years.  

 

There are people with whom you work, if long enough over the years, they leave a mark on you. Unforgettable personalities have passed through these doors in the 38 years I have been here, a few of them distinct in nature and set apart. Students, too, became part of this legacy. Some would go on to become physicians, attorneys and accountants, while the paths of many remain unknown. But the relationships formed would extend beyond the job, leaving a lasting impression on us all.

One of these early employees was Technology Specialist Brooks Johnson, who started his FSU ITS career within the halls of RSB. Beginning as a telecommunications technician, Brooks spent his days installing and repairing network systems across campus, ensuring that departments remained connected. Over the years, Brooks worked his way through ITS, where he eventually moved into service and portfolio management. However, Brooks will never forget the traditions that marked those early days of ITS in the 2000s. “My fondest memories of RSB are the times spent with my coworkers, whether we were eating at the training table (now today's FIG dining hall) or just enjoying the camaraderie in the Installation, Maintenance and Repair bullpen area. It was always a lively and engaging environment.” 

The newest addition to RSB was completed in 2003 which now houses the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (pictured in 2008).  

 

Ultimately, the Centrex Building may no longer function as it once did, but its impact endures through the people who passed through its doors and the systems that continue to support FSU’s mission. Today, RSB continues to serve the FSU community (minus the switchboard!) as it continues to house ITS and the College of Entrepreneurship and stands as a reminder of the history of ITS