I.M. Pei Dormitories

Commonly referred to as the ‘Pei Dormitory Student Complex,’ the Bates, Rothenberg & Johnson Residence Halls at New College were built in 1965 by I.M. Pei with Bert Brosmith. The I.M. Pei Dormitories are the only I.M. Pei design in the state of Florida and a rare example of brutalism from this era. An internationally renowned architect, Pei designed the dorms as three courts, or pavilions designed for student living, each centered around a lightly landscaped ‘Palm Court’. In stark contrast to the lighter forms of the Sarasota School architects, Pei’s work featured a heavy concrete frame with interior fountains and ponds (later converted to gardens). The courts featured balconies with sliding doors to bring in light and air. The buildings were renovated in 2014; however they still suffer from deferred maintenance and heavy student use.

New College has expressed that the dorms no longer meet the standards for modern student housing, and there is tremendous concern throughout the community about their potential demolition. Architecture Sarasota has partnered with New College in the hopes of identifying adaptive reuse and preservation strategies for the buildings.