A Village for those who understand that together we hold the promise of endless possibilities.

Creative Village builds upon the success of Orlando’s digital media industry by transforming the former Amway Arena site into a mixed-use, transit oriented, urban infill neighborhood in the heart of Downtown Orlando.

Creative Village delivers a true “live, work, learn, play” urban Innovation District that supports a synergistic and dynamic mix of uses including higher education, PS-8 education, mixed-income residential, student housing, office space/creative studios, retail/commercial, hotel and parks/open space.

Leading higher education providers; high-tech, digital media and creative companies; and a diverse mix of students, employees and residents call Creative Village home. The UCF/Valencia Downtown Campus, including the UnionWest student housing project, opened at Creative Village in August 2019 with more than 8,000 students/faculty/staff.

Phase 1 of Creative Village was completed in August 2022 and represents over $700 million in development activity. Completed projects include 260 mixed-income apartments; 640 purpose-built student housing beds; 701 market-rate apartments; 176,000 SF Electronic Arts Orlando Studio corporate anchor; 28,000 SF of ground floor commercial space; and 2.3-acre Luminary Green park. Completion of Phase 1 established critical mass with over 8,000 students/faculty/staff; 2,500 residents; and 1,000 professionals.

Phase 2 of Creative Village is underway with new office, apartment, hotel, mixed-income housing and student housing projects.

Recent News and Updates

UCF Downtown’s Video Game Design Programs Rank Among World’s Best for 2025

As highlighted by a UCF Today article on March 18, 2025, UCF was recognized for its excellence in producing hundreds of graduates that work on the best-selling video games in the world. Located at UCF Downtown in Creative Village, these top ranked ...

Ustler files plans for new mixed-use building in Creative Village

Creative Village master developer Craig Ustler filed plans in November 2024 to purchase a 1.2-acre lot just south of Luminary Green Park for a 7-story mixed-use building with 122 market-rate housing units and 22,000 square feet of commercial space. Read the full article ...

Mixed-use Creative Village building trades hands in 2024’s most lucrative multifamily transaction

In December 2024, UnionWest at Creative Village was sold in what was the Orlando market's most expensive multifamily transaction of the year. UnionWest is a mixed-use student housing building that is an integral part of the UCF Downtown and Valencia College ...

UCF, EA Sports create a partnership built for the future

The innovative partnership between UCF and EA Sports is featured in this Orlando Sentinel article from May 2, 2024. The Electronic Arts Orlando Studio in Creative Village has advanced local talent through its relationship with UCF's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) and ...

Chef Norman Van Aken partners with Valencia College Downtown campus for “Get Cooking”

As highlighted by the Orlando Sentinel on April 1, 2024, Orlando's new "Get Cooking" program, a collaboration between the legendary Norman Van Aken and successful food blogger Stacie Archer, teaches under-resourced families how to prepare healthy, home-cooked meals for less than $20. This ...

UCF’s FIEA Ranks as World’s No. 1 Graduate Game Design Program for the 4th Time in 5 Years

As of March 2024, UCF's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), housed at UCF Downtown in Creative Village, has been crowned the world's top graduate game design program for the fourth time in five years. This prestigious recognition underscores FIEA's unmatched excellence ...

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