The New College Challenge

In 2023, the New College Challenge invited six top research and design institutions to envision a future campus for New College of Florida. Each team explored architectural and landscape ideas that support the school’s educational mission while addressing broader regional needs.

The campus itself reflects a legacy of innovation. Designed in part by I.M. Pei in the 1960s, the Pei Dormitories remain a rare example of Brutalism in Florida. Philip Hiss, who helped shape Sarasota’s modern architectural identity, played a key role in bringing Pei to the project and aligning New College’s physical design with its unconventional academic model.

Today, the New College campus includes over 50 buildings across three sites. The Challenge emphasized the importance of adapting this unique built environment to ensure its relevance and resilience in the decades ahead.

Impact

• Six leading universities contributed bold design visions.
• Designs built on New College’s history of innovation.
• Pei Dormitories highlighted as nationally significant architecture.
• Project reinforced Sarasota’s legacy as a design-forward community.
• Student-centered and sustainable planning was prioritized.