More than a year in the making, the New College Challenge is a bold design endeavor created to excite and engage the college and community in envisioning a more vibrant campus and campus life for New College. New College partnered with six world-class design schools from top universities to reimagine a future campus that cultivates students into trailblazing problem-solvers and leaders.
Designs Now On Exhibit
The discoveries and ideas of the partner university design teams are now part of a public exhibition at Architecture Sarasota (265 S. Orange Avenue) – a partner throughout the Challenge.
Exhibition Hours:
- Summer Hours (beginning May 21, 2023): Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1:00 to 4:00 pm (except federal holidays)
- Fall Hours (beginning September 11, 2023): Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm (except federal holidays)
The Challenge Process
The New College Challenge is a testament to the university’s commitment to continuous improvement and its dedication to providing its students with a top-notch education experience.
One key aspect of the New College Challenge is the incorporation of external perspectives and examining the university’s operations and initiatives through outside lenses of its partner institutions.
All six universities presented their compelling designs to the New College campus and surrounding community May 12, 2023
The following day, May 13, 2023, the New College Challenge Exhibition opened at Architecture Sarasota where leaders from the partner universities participated in a panel discussion led by Challenge Co-Chair Dr. David Brain.
Kean University
Syracuse University
University of Florida
University of Miami
University of South Florida
Yale
How Did We Get Here?
The New College Challenge grew from an idea in late November 2021 to a series of plans, programs and research. New College formed a team of faculty, staff and students to lead the initiative, seated a high level advisory committee and engaged the college and local community and a host of experts in the process. New College taught a class of its own that began in Fall 2022 which supported the work of the partnering academic teams.
Challenge Launch Week
A week of events launched the New College Challenge, beginning with a community Kickoff Brunch on the Bayfront on Oct. 25, 2022, New Topics lecture with Harvard professor Chris Reed, and the Designing for Resilience Symposium.
Watch the Symposium Livestream | Learn more about Launch Week Events
Spring Classes and University Partner Visits
The design teams were given one of three categories to focus on: Bayfront Activation; Collaboration, Creativity and Community Core; Reimagining Pei. On Saturday, February 4th, the teams presented their early designs in an interactive exercise with the campus and community, which boasted strategies and mechanisms to address various environmental factors that affect us all region-wide.
These 8 design presentations below– developed in collaboration by students from Kean University, New College, Syracuse University, University of Florida, University of Miami and the University of South Florida – are just an example of the campus innovation being developed for New College by the Challenge academic teams.
Bayfront Activation: Connecting Caples Campus
Bayfront Activation: Engaging Students & Community with an Interactive, Living Shoreline
Collaboration, Creativity and Community Core: Shade Clustering & Collaboration
Collaboration, Creativity and Community Core: Shelter, Food & The Forest
Collaboration, Creativity and Community Core: Campus Nodes & Quads – A New Campus Focal Point
Reimagining Pei: Pei’s Ripple Effect – Transformation of the Pei Dorms
Reimagining Pei: Enhancing Community
Reimagining Pei: Phasing Out Pei Campus Into The Bayfront & Caples Campus
As a continuation of this phase of the New College Challenge, students from Yale University visited the campus March 13th-15th, and presented their mid-term work to New College faculty, staff, and students.
All the university partner teams completed their designs at the end of their Spring Semester and the team leaders returned to New College May 12-13, 2023 for final presentations (above).
What’s Next?
New College will use the designs to inform a new campus plan to match an enhanced curriculum. The public exhibition of the designs will be on display at Architecture Sarasota throughout 2023.
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A Liberal Arts College’s Unique Approach To Planning For The Future: The New College Challenge
CategoriesPostedThe New College Challenge has caught Forbes's attention as an innovative, ambitious project with a fresh plan for community involvement and growth.
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PostedUnder the bayfront tent from 9 to 4:30 pm on Friday, October 28th, crowds converged for the “Designing for Resilience” Symposium on coastal resilience and adaptive strategies, as part of…
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PostedThree days of events during The New College Challenge launch week brought hundreds of attendees to the New College of Florida campus. Students, faculty and staff (along with business, community and higher education leaders) engaged in community conversations about coastal, economic and social resilience from October 25 to 28.
Student Leadership
The Planning for Campus Resilience Challenge academic course at New College invited students to play a central role in shaping the future of their campus, explore practical responses to rising sea levels in coastal communities, and develop leadership skills for collaborative problem solving in diverse communities.
From its inception New College students have been integral leaders involved in the Challenge.
The Challenge Model
The New College Challenge is modeled after two endeavors in the Northeast: “Envision Resilience: Nantucket Challenge” and “Envision Resilience: Narragansett Bay”. Learn more at envisionresilience.org
Donate to Support the Challenge
We often hear that it takes money to make money. It’s true. The Challenge is an expensive endeavor, but it is a collaborative undertaking that is designed to elevate our campus and community, both regionally and nationally. Yes, it’s an ambitious undertaking for our small school, but together we can have an impact that reaches well beyond our area. This Challenge is a collective investment in our future–can you help us seize this moment? DonateChallenge Advisory Council
Contact Us
Thank you to our Challenge Sponsors
Jake Short, ‘87
Kathleen Binnicker Swann Foundation
