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(Photo courtesy Miami Dade College)
Miami Dade College (MDC) has announced a landmark $5 million gift from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to support the restoration, revitalization and cultural programming of the National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower in celebration of its centennial.
This transformational investment marks Knight Foundation’s first major contribution to the Freedom Tower and will be recognized through the naming of The Knight Skylight Gallery — a light-filled space that once served as a workroom for the Miami Daily News.
As part of the Tower’s reopening this fall, the gallery will debut with “Refuge and Reflection,” a signature exhibition exploring themes of community, resilience, memory and belonging through art, multimedia, oral histories and interactive storytelling.
The Knight Skylight Gallery also will host a dynamic sound and light installation and a wall-sized projection mapping Miami’s landscape and evolution. A striking sculpture by renowned artist Sharon Louden will anchor the space, while a broadsheet publication produced three times a year will spotlight Miami stories. The Knight Series at the Skylight Gallery, developed in collaboration with MDC, will feature interdisciplinary events inspired by the Tower’s legacy in journalism, civic dialogue and the arts.
“This gift is a testament to the belief that Miami’s history deserves to be preserved, celebrated, and shared,” said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. “Thanks to Knight Foundation’s support, the Freedom Tower will continue to serve as a beacon of civic memory, cultural expression and community pride for the next 100 years.”
The Freedom Tower’s centennial represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore its iconic Mediterranean Revival architecture while launching a new chapter as a vibrant civic and cultural hub. In addition to the Knight Skylight Gallery, the reimagined Tower will include new exhibitions that document its original role as the home of the Miami Daily News and, later, the Cuban Refugee Center, which welcomed over 400,000 Cuban exiles fleeing the island.
“The Freedom Tower stands at the crossroads of Miami’s past, present and future,” said Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, president and CEO of Knight Foundation. “With this gift, we are not only helping to preserve a landmark of profound historical significance but also ensuring that every Miamian can see themselves reflected in its exhibitions, programs and cultural expression.”
Knight Foundation’s new $5 million investment builds on its longstanding commitment to Miami Dade College, bringing its total support to more than $16 million in recent years.
This includes a $7 million grant in 2021 that helped establish the nation’s first associate degree in applied artificial intelligence.
Knight’s sustained partnership also has supported MDC’s acclaimed cultural and civic programs such as the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, Museum of Art and Design (MOAD), Live Arts Miami, and The Koubek Center, reinforcing its dedication to preserving Miami’s cultural institutions and expanding civic engagement.
Located at 600 Biscayne Blvd. in Downtown Miami, the Freedom Tower currently is under renovation. For updates on its reopening and centennial programming, visit mdc.edu/freedomtower.
About the Freedom Tower
Built in 1925, the Freedom Tower is a designated National Historic Landmark and one of Miami’s most iconic buildings. Originally serving as the headquarters for The Miami News, it later became a processing center for approximately 400,000 Cuban exiles seeking safety and opportunity during the 1960s and 1970s.
Today, it is stewarded by Miami Dade College and operated by its Museum of Art and Design (MOAD). Following a major restoration, the Freedom Tower will reopen in 2025, inspiring visitors with its rich history and collective legacy of hope, resilience, and freedom.
Learn more at mdc.edu/freedomtower.
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