More than 300 friends, students, trustees, faculty and staff of Florida Southern turned out on a spectacularly sunny day for the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Residence Life Center on September 13, 2006. The ceremony, which included a performance by the Florida Southern Jazz Band and an appearance by “Mocsie,” marked the beginning of construction on the first of the buildings that will comprise the state-of-the-art center along Lake Hollingsworth. The Residence Life Center is funded by FSC alumni Carol ’79 and Barney Barnett ’65 through a transformational gift to the College and designed by the internationally acclaimed Robert A. M. Stern Architects of New York.

“The Barnetts’ extraordinary commitment to the College stems from their dedication to making sure that our students continue to receive high quality and life-changing educational experiences,” said president Anne Kerr. “We are thrilled to witness the start of construction on this magnificent new campus living-learning environment and revolutionary architectural achievement.”

The Residence Life Center will replace the 50-year-old Panhellenic complex, which is not part of the college’s collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. The new design, with its unique Y-shaped buildings, will complement Wright’s architecture with large overhangs that allow for shaded outdoor activities, reminiscent of the esplanades that link his buildings on campus. The facility will include 195 bedrooms with views of Lake Hollingsworth, meeting rooms, student lounges, kitchens, study spaces, a technology center and a theatre.

Completion of the Center is slated for the fall of 2008.