The architecture of Florida Southern College (FSC) in Lakeland is a unique and beautiful example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian style. This campus is home to the “Child of the Sun,” the largest single-site collection of Wright-designed structures in the world and a designated National Historic Landmark.
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Wright believed that Usonian design should be “organic,” shaped by the natural contours of the land, and “democratic,” featuring open, flexible layouts that serve multiple purposes.
Preservation and Management
As a National Historic Landmark, Florida Southern College is dedicated to the continuous preservation of Wright’s vision. Management is centered at the Sharp Family Tourism and Education Center, which provides a hub for visitors and displays Wright’s original drawings and furniture. Ongoing restoration efforts, such as the “Friends of Frank” program, ensure that these structures are protected against the elements for future generations to experience.
Plan Your Visit
We journeyed to FSC in 2025 to explore these campus grounds firsthand. From the towering geometry of the chapels to the peaceful shade of the walkways, the campus is a photographer’s dream. You can read all about our personal highlights and travel tips in our article: Chasing the Sun in Lakeland & New Year’s on the Gulf.
Location
Florida Southern is located just north of Lake Hollingworth in Lakeland Florida. The Sharp Family Tourism and Education Center, where tours begin, is located at 840 Johnson Ave, at the corner of Frank Lloyd Wright Way.
Tours
Various tours of Wright’s Florida Southern College are available daily. Advance purchase of tickets is recommended. For more information or to purchase tickets online, please visit the link below. Parking is available in the lot directly across from the Visitors Center. Official Website – Tours
Hotels in Lakeland, Florida
Child of the Sun Campus
The following 13 structures are listed in the order they were completed, tracing the growth of Wright’s master plan for the college.
The Annie Pfeiffer Chapel (1941) is one of the most iconic buildings on the Florida Southern College campus. The first building completed, it features intricate “textile” concrete blocks and a towering skylight that serves as the spiritual heart of the campus. The interior is flooded with natural light, and it is a beautiful and serene place for worship or meditation.
The Three Seminars (1941): Comprising the Carter, Walbridge, and Hawkins buildings, these classroom spaces pioneered the use of modular, standardized construction on campus.
Buckner Building (1945): This structure is famous for its circular reading room and tiered windows that provide soft, diffused natural light.
Watson Administration Building (1948): This building utilizes low-slung, horizontal lines to emphasize the connection between the interior workspace and the surrounding landscape.
Fine Administration Building (1948): Built as a companion to the Watson building, it completes the formal administrative gateway with consistent Usonian motifs.
The Water Dome (1948): A massive circular fountain designed to create a literal “dome” of water. It was fully restored to Wright’s original mechanical intent in 2007.
Ordway Building (1952): Originally the Industrial Arts Building, it features beautiful interior courtyards that bring the outdoors into the classroom.
Danforth Chapel (1955): An intimate chapel featuring native Florida cypress and a dramatic, soaring roofline that reflects Wright’s late-career evolution.
Polk County Science Building (1958): The final building completed in Wright’s lifetime, housing the only planetarium he ever designed.
The Esplanades (1940–1958): These 1.5 miles of cantilevered walkways were constructed in phases to connect the various campus buildings while providing shade.
Usonian Faculty House (2013): Designed by Wright and constructed posthumously, this unique one-story structure is the only faculty house of its kind ever built. Serving now as a museum for organic residential living, the building features a low-pitched roof and a large, open floor plan made of concrete blocks designed for sustainability and energy efficiency.
The architecture of Florida Southern College remains a place where students and visitors can experience the beauty and harmony of Wright’s work in a living, breathing educational environment.
Additional Resources & Inspired Products
Find unique products, books, and gifts inspired by Florida Southern College at our Amazon storefront: Wright at Home!
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s Florida Southern College (The Florida History and Culture Series) by Dale Allen Gyure (Author)
- The Buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright at Florida Southern College (Images of America) by Randall M. MacDonald (Author), Nora E. Galbraith (Author), James G. Rogers Jr. (Author)
- Read more about Florida Southern College on Wikipedia
