New structure is first dedicated classroom building on campus in 20 years

LAKELAND, Fla. (Oct. 24, 2007) — Florida Southern College will hold groundbreaking ceremonies for the Dr. Marcene H. and Robert E. Christoverson Humanities Building, which will be located adjacent to the architectural quadrant of campus that includes the 12 Frank Lloyd Wright structures. The groundbreaking takes place at 12:00 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the corner of Lake Hollingsworth Drive and Johnson Avenue. The College plans a press announcement at that time.

Dr. Marcene H. Christoverson of New York City and Jupiter, Fla., donated $2 million toward the new building, which is being designed by the New York architectural firm of Robert A.M. Stern Architects. Christoverson is chairman of St. John Associates, Inc., a company she built into one of the largest woman-owned direct mail houses in the world. Christoverson’s company was recognized as the leader among woman-owned businesses by New York City and she received the prestigious “Bridges to Success Award” in 2000.

“The entire campus community is elated by Dr. Christoverson’s generosity to make this much-needed facility a reality,” said Dr. Anne B. Kerr, FSC president. “The Christoverson Humanities Building gives FSC the opportunity to provide a state-of-the-art learning facility for our talented students and faculty, and it will ensure that our students have an excellent academic experience.”

Architect Stern is the Dean of the Yale School of Architecture and a Frank Lloyd Wright scholar. He has designed a building that will resonate artfully with the Wright structures on campus. Stern also designed the Residential Life Center currently under construction along Lake Hollingsworth.

The humanities building, which will overlook the lake, is the first classroom building on campus in 20 years. It will be dedicated to the study of literature and language, and every FSC student will take courses there. The building will house classrooms, seminar rooms, a writing center, a modern language learning center, a computer lab, a film studies center, faculty offices and a gallery lobby.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1883, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive United Methodist-affiliated college with a liberal arts core. The College maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 46 undergraduate majors and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student/faculty ratio; is a national leader in engaged learning; and boasts 26 NCAA Division II national championships. It is ranked in the Top 5 “Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the South” by U.S. News & World Report and is included in The Princeton Review’s “366 Best Colleges” guide. The College is committed to the development of the whole student through vibrant student life programs that prepare graduates to make a positive, consequential impact on society. Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is home to the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.