On Thursday, October 23, FIT unveiled the Joyce F. Brown Academic Building, the first new academic building on FIT’s campus in nearly 50 years. Named after President Brown by a unanimous resolution passed by the FIT Board of Trustees, it recognizes her 27 years of service and transformative leadership. The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought prominent figures from across fashion, government, and beyond to celebrate the milestone.
Designed by SHoP Architects, the 10-story, 100,000-plus-square-foot building brings Dr. Brown’s vision to life. A striking glass façade creates a new kind of campus destination: one where the energy of FIT is visible to the outside, reflecting the college’s vital role at the heart of the city’s creative community. The project was funded by New York State, New York City, and a distinguished roster of individual and corporate supporters as part of a shared commitment to strengthening public higher education and supporting the next generation of talent for the fashion and creative industries.
FIT Board of Trustees Chair Robin Burns-McNeill made the announcement that the board had voted on October 16 in a closed executive session to name the new building in Dr. Brown’s honor. The name was then revealed on the building, to the surprise of both the audience and Dr. Brown.
“It was not long after Dr. Brown arrived at FIT to take on the role of president that she envisioned a place where the students and faculty would be able to teach, learn, and could foster the creativity that we embody at FIT,” Burns-McNeill said. “And then we joined forces with ShoP Architects, and over many years she developed the idea for this stunning new building. And as is signature to her leadership, she brought all of our major stakeholders into the project—and there are many—ensuring that everyone was represented. She fearlessly and relentlessly overcame not a few barriers but an extraordinary number of barriers to bring us all to this day.”
“I am humbled and will be forever proud of the statement and legacy that you have allowed me to embellish by placing my name on this magnificent building,” Dr. Brown said. “I will be forever grateful.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s office issued a press release celebrating the historic opening. “FIT’s new Joyce F. Brown Academic Building cements its place at the crossroads of creativity, innovation, and opportunity,” Governor Hochul said. “There’s no more fitting place for this milestone than the fashion capital of the world—New York City—where top-tier talent and the global fashion industry merge to set trends, spark ideas, and build the future. This space will inspire the next generation of designers, artists, and entrepreneurs shaping what’s next in fashion and design.”
The building features include 26 energy-efficient classrooms and studios, administrative offices, and the largest campus knitting lab in the U.S. The space also houses FIT’s first interior space designed specifically for interpersonal connection outside the classroom—a full-floor student commons under a 20-foot-high ceiling, accessible via an express escalator. FIT’s commitment to environmental stewardship is reflected in the design and construction of the building, which is projected to attain LEED Gold certification.
“You are all empowered to succeed by one person, our visionary leader Dr. Joyce F Brown,” said Dr. Merryl H. Tisch, chairman of the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees. “SUNY has 64 campuses which means 64 college presidents. It will take a long time for someone to walk in the footprint of the greatness of Dr. Joyce F. Brown.”
“FIT, and what Dr. Brown stands for, is part of the fabric of New York,” said Andrea Stewart-Cousins, New York State Senate president pro tempore and majority leader. “This building is a proclamation for all that you’ve done for the system, for the school, for the image of New York, to continue to feed a fashion industry that has over 300,000 employees and generates millions and millions of dollars as a state college that allows for all those dreams to come true.”
“This moment represents much more than the opening of a new facility,” said New York City Deputy Mayor Camille Joseph Varlack. “It is a powerful symbol of what can be achieved through vision, persistence, and a true partnership. FIT has long been a cornerstone of New York City’s creative and educational landscape. It stands at the heart of New York’s creative identity, where educational artistry and innovation converge. The college’s influence extends far beyond the classroom, shaping global trends and ensuring New York remains the creative capital of the world.”
“You can see how FIT has transformed the dynamic of leadership in New York State public education,” said Brad Hoylman-Sigal, New York State senator. “Joyce Brown, this is the legacy of your leadership for so many decades. The creative economy is so important to the future of New York City and it’s so important that we give young people, who normally would not think to enter this industry, a chance at success. And that’s what FIT does every day.”
“We are the fashion capital of the world because of FIT!” said Erik Bottcher, a New York City council member. “This project is revitalizing this block in Chelsea. This was a loading dock before, so we’re stitching back together the city with this project. We might be the fashion capital of the world, but we can’t take that for granted and assume that it will always be so. We have to continue innovating and investing, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”
“For 27 years Dr. Brown has championed innovation, sustainability, and creativity and truly positioned FIT as a global leader,” said FIT alumna Nina Garcia, editor-in-chief of Elle and a member of FIT’s Board of Trustees. “It is only fitting that we honor her remarkable contributions by naming this building she’s helped bring to life for her students.”
“From the outset of the project we wanted to highlight what was happening at FIT and make it visible for the first time to the broader fashion district,” said Bill Sharples, a founding principal of SHoP Architects. “We’re very proud to have had a hand in presenting the creative presence of FIT to the city.”