Reimagining the Heart of Campus
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RePei is a play on words and an acronym for a transformative concept (Repurpose, Reenergize, and Reimagine) to the Pei Dormitories at New College’s East Campus. This project transcends physical renovation, aiming to rekindle the original spirit and purpose of the iconic Pei Dormitories. Honoring their historical significance while adapting them to contemporary needs, RePei reflects New College's dynamic spirit by creating a vibrant hub of student life. Through innovative design and a commitment to community, the project revitalizes these spaces to support the evolving demands of the campus.
Central to the vision of RePei is respect for the original architectural intent, which emphasized introspection and communal interaction through shared gathering spaces and the iconic palm court. This legacy is preserved and enhanced with new energy and adaptability, ensuring the dormitories remain a cornerstone of campus life. Integrated into a master plan that focuses on athletics, wellness, and student life, the Pei Dormitories are set to play a vital role in the rejuvenation of East Campus. By balancing preservation with innovation, the project ensures these spaces meet the diverse needs of today’s students while maintaining their architectural heritage.
A focal point of the renewal is the transformation of the palm court, reimagined with a dynamic superstructure that redefines the space. This central venue will become a lively hub for events such as music festivals, sporting activities, and student gatherings, further energizing campus life. The revitalized Pei Dormitories are designed to be more than living spaces—they will serve as a living, breathing part of New College’s future, fostering connection, creativity, and community engagement. RePei represents a bold redefinition of a cherished campus icon.
client/owner
New College of Florida
Project information
location
Sarasota, FL
size
110 Acres
Status
Design Competition
The founder of Sweet Sparkman, Todd was born and raised in the Northeast, where he received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Roger Williams University. Todd spent his internship at Arquitectonica in Miami, Florida, where he worked on projects throughout Europe, South America, and the United States. In 2002, Todd started the firm TOTeMS Architecture (the original firm name). In 2004, he partnered with Jerry Sparkman to form Sweet Sparkman Architects. The firm has built a national reputation for design excellence and has been asked to participate in La Venice Biennale, a bi-annual architecture exhibit in Venice, Italy. In his 20 years of practice, Todd has enjoyed the study of simple building volumes and the exploitation of materials in an unconventional fashion. Municipal planning and architecture are Todd's award-winning specialty.
Todd Sweet, AIA, LEED AP
Karl Bernhard, AIA
Karl Bernhard grew up in New Orleans, where the city's rich architectural history and vulnerable, storm-prone environment shaped his early passion for resilient design. Inspired by the interplay between urban life and the surrounding swamplands, Karl developed a fascination with how the built environment can respond to and reflect nature. This connection drove him to pursue architecture from a young age, blending creativity with an understanding of place, emotion, and function.
Now based in Sarasota for over a decade, Karl continues to focus on designs that balance resilience, sustainability, and human-centered experience. He’s a mentor, collaborator, and active member of the AIA, committed to shaping the next generation of architects. Outside the studio, Karl finds inspiration in martial arts, inline skating, and exploring nature with his family—pursuits that echo his ongoing search for harmony between the human and natural worlds.
Lissette Callejas, CPSM
Lissette holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from the Ringling College of Art + Design. Over the years, she has gravitated towards the business and marketing side of the architecture and design industry. Lissette ran her own interiors business for seven years and has brought that experience to Sweet Sparkman Architects. She now serves as the Marketing Manager.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Lissette grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to Sarasota in 2007 to pursue her education at Ringling College. She quickly fell in love with the vibrant arts culture and architectural history of Sarasota. With the perfect weather and pristine beaches Sarasota offered, she decided to move permanently.
Besides architecture and design, her interests are socializing, cooking, boating, traveling, and cars. Above all, she loves spending time with two children, husband, and her two long-haired dachshunds, Marco and Polo. She believes in the power of a delicious meal and a good bottle of wine to bring people together.
Li Si
Li Si is a project designer with a Master's degree from the University of Florida. Originally from China, she currently works at Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors, seeking to expand her expertise in residential and public projects. She's particularly passionate about design and the creation of immersive architectural experiences.
Inspired by mid-century modernism and traditional Asian architecture, her style is self-described as "more is more." She draws influence from architects like Victor Lundy, Carlo Scarpa, Tadao Ando, and Antoni Gaudi. Li Si also enjoys hobbies like watercolor, oil painting, photography, and collecting mid-century modern furniture, which provide a unique perspective in her work.
Owen McCormick, Associate AIA
Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Owen earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University, where he was a participant in the school’s third year Rural Studio Program—an immersive design-build program focused on community-based architecture in rural Alabama. That early experience continues to inform his interest in public architecture with purpose and impact.
At Sweet Sparkman, Owen focuses primarily on large-scale public work, with a particular emphasis on educational facilities. He combines a strong technical foundation with a refined visual sensibility, often producing high-quality renderings and videos that help bring designs to life for clients and communities. Whether managing complex programmatic needs or visualizing a building’s final form, Owen brings precision and clarity to each project.
A committed outdoorsman, Owen takes full advantage of Florida’s landscape—hiking, biking, and pursuing his favorite pastime: amateur birdwatching. This deep appreciation for the natural world shapes his approach to architecture, reminding him of the broader environments in which buildings exist and the people they serve.
Cole Mears, AIA
Cole is a Florida native who discovered architecture unexpectedly during his undergraduate studies—and instantly knew it was the right path. He earned his Master of Architecture from the University of South Florida, where he developed a deep interest in semiotics and human-centered design. With a background in team sports and a strong collaborative mindset, Cole found a natural fit at Sweet Sparkman, where he contributes to a wide range of public projects with a focus on community impact and experiential design.
Cole brings a human-first approach to architecture, drawing influence from thinkers and practitioners such as Jan Gehl, Peter Zumthor, and Juhani Pallasmaa. He sees architecture as a communicative art—one that operates through both conscious and unconscious interpretation—and is passionate about creating spaces that are enriching, expressive, and grounded in their cultural and physical context. Now with over six years at the firm, Cole continues to enjoy the collaborative design process and often plays a mentoring role, helping to guide and support younger team members.
Outside the studio, Cole channels his creativity through cooking, visual arts, and a lifelong appreciation for music, cinema, and graphic design. He views all creative disciplines as connected by a shared energy and curiosity—and sees architecture as one of many expressions of that artistic impulse.
Juan Ocaña, Associate AIA
With a background in architecture, fine arts, and design technology, Juan Ocaña brings a multidisciplinary lens to his work—blending curiosity, creativity, and technical fluency. Raised on Florida’s east coast and influenced by time spent in New Orleans, Nicaragua, and Mexico, Juan’s design perspective is shaped by a rich cultural heritage and a lifelong passion for art, music, and place making. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Architecture at the Academy of Art University while contributing to a wide range of public and private projects at Sweet Sparkman.
Juan’s approach to architecture is driven by a belief that design should do more than shelter—it should evoke emotion, inspire ideas, and respond thoughtfully to both context and user. His work balances bold, expressive forms with moments of quiet minimalism, always guided by rhythm, site, and purpose. He has contributed to notable projects including the adaptive reuse of Sarasota’s first public library and the design of a 100-acre spring training facility for the Atlanta Braves.
Outside the office, Juan enjoys playing guitar and listening to music across genres. He finds a deep connection between rhythm in both music and design, as it can serve as a foundation to explore unexpected moments in song as well as form and space.
Daniel Mertke
With a background in structural engineering and a passion for design, Dani sees architecture as the perfect blend of technology and creativity. Originally from Germany, he values how structure shapes space and focuses on creating timeless, human-centered designs that frame views, guide movement, and foster interaction.
Inspired by architects like Mies van der Rohe and Fran Silvestre, Dani embraces architecture’s connection to natural elements like light, air, and gravity. His award-winning thesis, living.lofts, reimagined a Zurich building into flexible living spaces and was featured in an architectural magazine. Outside of work, he resets his creative mindset through exercise and soccer, bringing fresh energy to his design process.
Designed in Collaboration With Hello June Creative.
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