Florida Southern Opens a New Dorm in the Spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright

Wesley and Nicholas Halls (Robert A.M. Stern Architects image)

Florida Southern College, which has a campus plan by Frank Lloyd Wright and the largest collection of Wright buildings anywhere, has opened the second of two new dorms that call Wright’s motifs to mind. The buildings were designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the New York firm headed by the dean of Yale University’s School of Architecture.

The newer building, Nicholas Hall, is a 37,510-square-foot, 120-bed residence hall whose twin, Wesley Hall, opened a year ago. Both buildings feature angled masses mimicking those of Wright buildings on the campus—notably the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel and its smaller neighbor, the William H. Danforth Chapel. According to the Lakeland Ledger, Nicholas Hall has two-room suites that each accommodate three students.

At the new building’s dedication, Mr. Stern said he had tried to be faithful to Wright’s vision for the campus. ”Frank Lloyd Wright had some terrific clients, and Florida Southern College was one of those clients, for him and for me,” Mr. Stern said. “I hope I’ve done right by Mr. Wright.”