Lucius Pond Ordway Building

In 1952, another Frank Lloyd Wright building was completed - an industrial arts building. It housed the Home Economics Department as well as industrial workshops. Originally, the building was named the J. William Horsey Building; however, after Horsey withdrew further financial support, the building was rededicated as the Lucius Pond Ordway Building in 1956 after Lucius Pond Ordway, one of the 3M corporation's initial investors. Also around the mid-1950s, the Zimmermann Lounge was dedicated to Trustee G. Floyd Zimmermann, Sr. The lounge was later changed to a testing area due to a lack of student use. Ordway was remodeled in 1971 and serves as the home of Florida Southern College's Political Science, History, Sociology, Psychology Departments, several clubs, other classes, and the Honors Lounge. In 2008, the Rodda Family Plaza was constructed in the central courtyard area and dedicated to Trustee John Rodda and his family. Another significant area of the Ordway Building is the Theatre-in-the-Round, officially named the William Fletcher Theatre after Professor William Gregory Fletcher (Class of 1900), one of the College's oldest alumni when he passed away in 1952. Completely circular, the theatre serves as both a classroom space and a center for Florida Southern students to showcase their artistic talents. A unique facet of the theatre is that when one stands at the center of the circle, one's voice is magnified back. The William Fletcher Theatre was renovated in 2012, due to funding from Dr. Mark C. Hollis, Sr. shortly before he passed away. In 2024, the College announced that the new School of Architecture would be housed in the Ordway Building.

William Fletcher Theatre

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