The Evolution of the Florida Atlantic University Logo: A Visual History
Florida Atlantic University (FAU), a public research university established in Boca Raton, Florida, in 1964, has a rich history and a strong athletic presence through its intercollegiate sports teams, the Florida Atlantic Owls. As the Owls have grown and evolved, so too has their visual identity. This article explores the history of the Florida Atlantic University logo, tracing its evolution from its earliest forms to the present day.
The Origins of FAU
To meet the growing educational needs of South Florida, the state legislature authorized the establishment of a new university in Boca Raton on July 15, 1961. Florida Atlantic University was built on the site of the Boca Raton Army Airfield, a World War II-era facility. The university opened its doors on September 14, 1964, with 867 students enrolled in five colleges. The institution has grown significantly since its founding, now serving over 30,000 students on seven campuses.
Lyndon B. Johnson, then the President of the United States, received an honorary doctorate at the university's dedication on October 25, 1964. At the time, the university had 350 employees, including 120 faculty members. FAU's expansion began in 1971 with the opening of its Commercial Boulevard campus in Fort Lauderdale. In 1984, the university began admitting lower-division undergraduate students in response to South Florida's rapidly growing population.
The Owl Mascot: A Symbol of Wisdom and Endurance
The owl has been a consistent symbol for Florida Atlantic University, representing wisdom, prudence, and endurance. The presence of owls on the university's land predates the construction of FAU. In 1971, the National Audubon Society designated FAU's land as an official owl sanctuary. Owlsley and Hoot are the names of the mascots for Florida Atlantic University. The S.E. Wimberly Library on the Boca Raton campus has a permanent display of four generations of Florida Atlantic’s beloved owl mascot.
A Timeline of FAU Logos
The Florida Atlantic Owls' logo has undergone several transformations over the years, each reflecting the evolving identity and aspirations of the university's athletic programs.
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1979 - 1983: The Original Owl Emblem
When FAU became a four-year educational institution and established its own sports teams, the first logo was designed. An American owl was chosen as the mascot because one of the university’s campuses has been an official sanctuary for this endangered bird species since April 23, 1971. The emblem resembled a round seal with several concentric rings. In the center was a monogram of lowercase letters “f,” “a,” and “u,” superimposed on each other. In the wide frame was the inscription “FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY.” Two bold dots separated it from the name of the city of Boca Raton, where the institution’s main campus is located. The color palette remained blue and white.
1983 - 1989: Redesign and a Classier Look
The logo resembled a round seal with several concentric rings. In the center was a monogram of lowercase letters “f,” “a,” and “u” overlaid on each other. In the wide frame was the inscription “FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY.” Two bold dots separated it from the name of the city of Boca Raton, where the institution’s main campus is located. The color scheme remained blue and white.
1989 - 1993: Strengthening the Image
Designers retained the round shape of the emblem and the central monogram. But the inscription on the ring was changed: now it contains only the university’s name. It’s colored white to stand out against the dark blue background.
2000 - 2005: The Aggressive Owl
The first football team of the Florida Atlantic Owls was formed in 2001. A few months before, FAU decided to create a bolder and more aggressive image. The old logo with the contemplative bird did not match the desired image. Moreover, some consultants suggested abandoning the American owl as a mascot, considering it not convincing enough. However, the university community was categorically against this.
Eventually, the owl remained in both the logo and the name of the sports department. To give the bird an aggressive look, artist Todd Dawes depicted it flying, with claws thrust forward, sharp talons, widely spread wings, and a slightly open beak. The fierce predator looks threatening, ready to confront anyone who stands in its way. In the foreground is the abbreviation “FAU.” The letters have sharp serifs resembling spikes. The red inscription with white outlines stands out brightly against the yellow-blue image.
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2005 - 2018: "Winged FAU"
This logo, unofficially known as “Winged FAU,” consists of almost half of the large white letters “F,” “A,” and “U” with wings on the sides. One bird’s wing is attached to the letter “F” and the other to the letter “U,” so it seems that the inscription is about to take off. Beneath it is a red ribbon with the white phrase “FLORIDA ATLANTIC.” It separates the lower part of the emblem - a white oval with a wide dark blue frame, from which an owl of the same color flies out. Artists added gray contours to prevent the elements from blending.
The new design was presented in February 2005, but work on it began 18 months earlier. The university turned to the consulting firm Rickabaugh Graphics, which conducted a sports team branding assessment and helped create an expressive logo while retaining the familiar mascot.
2018 - 2023: Simplification and Focus
In 2018, the graphic sign was simplified. The winged inscription “FAU” is located directly on the owl’s head, which no longer has a body or oval background. Among the gray, white, and dark blue elements, two red stripes above the bird’s eyes make its gaze confident and piercing.
2023 - Present: The Owl's Head
For some reason, designers removed the “FAU” abbreviation from the university’s visual symbols system. As a result, the only inscription was removed from the logo, so now the sports teams are represented only by the owl’s head. It comprises simple geometric shapes, including ovals, triangles, semicircles, half-rings, and curved blue, gray, and red stripes.
The Significance of the Owl
This is the American owl - a bird that has become a unique part of the university’s history. As of 2023, about 34 representatives of this endangered bird species lived on the main campus. Despite its apparent simplicity and harmlessness, the owl is a fierce predator, making it an excellent candidate for a sports team mascot.
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Brand Colors and Fonts
The color palette of rich blues and a splash of red reflects the university’s values of excellence, integrity, and innovation. The deep blue tone represents trust, loyalty, and wisdom, while the red stands for strength, excitement, and energy. The blue shows that the university values tradition and stability. Meanwhile, red is also associated with the heart, symbolizing the university’s dedication to nurturing the intellectual, emotional, and social growth of its students.
The Owls in Athletics
Florida Atlantic University's athletic teams, the Owls, compete in NCAA Division I and the American Athletic Conference (AAC). With 19 varsity athletic teams, the Owls have found success in winning titles and championships in the C-USA (FAU's previous athletic conference) and garnering attention on the national scale.
FAU has attracted high-profile coaches in the past for various sports, including Howard Schnellenberger and Lane Kiffin for football and Mike Jarvis for basketball. Other former coaches include Matt Doherty, Rex Walters, and Sidney Green.
Football
Florida Atlantic University fielded its first football team in 2001, coached by former Miami and Louisville coach Howard Schnellenberger. After just four seasons, the Owls jumped to Division I-A (now FBS), joining the Sun Belt Conference. In 2007, they competed in their first bowl game, the New Orleans Bowl, where they defeated the Memphis Tigers 44-27. The Owls' natural rivals are the FIU Panthers, and the annual game is called the Shula Bowl. In 2013, the Owls joined Conference USA. On December 12, 2016, the program hired the fourth coach in program history; Lane Kiffin.
Baseball
Florida Atlantic Baseball fielded its first squad in 1981. Kevin Cooney, the most successful coach in school history, was the Florida Atlantic head baseball coach from 1988 through 2008. Currently, the Owls are coached by long-time assistant for Cooney, John McCormack.
Basketball
FAU basketball began play in 1988. In the 2002 season, FAU won the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship. The Owls play at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
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