The Rise of the New Heights Program
7/15/2026
Olivia Zarraluqui | Assistant Principal for the High School
This article was first published in the Traditions Magazine - Summer 2026 edition.
It was with great joy and excitement that we inaugurated the New Heights Program this past school year, a distinguished enrichment initiative for 10th and 11th-grade students drawn to the world of design. Developed in partnership with The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA), the program invited students into a dynamic study of classical and vernacular architecture. Through hands-on studio experiences, participants went beyond the mere study of structures; they deepened their understanding of the built environment and, true to the Ignatian tradition, their unique place within it.
The program was brought to our school through the vision and generosity of Belen alumnus Rafael Portuondo ’76, Principal of Portuondo Perotti Architecture and a board member of the ICAA Florida Chapter. Guided by a desire to give back to his alma mater through his passion for design, Rafael recognized that the program perfectly aligns with Belen’s commitment to cura personalis, the development of the well-rounded young man, and our strong tradition in the study of Art History.
Throughout the academic year, our students enthusiastically welcomed this unique opportunity to learn directly from industry professionals and academic leaders. Each session was led by award-winning architects, landscape architects, and distinguished professors from across the country, including proud Belen alumni who returned to mentor the next generation.
Through guided observation, critical thinking, sketching, and deliberate design, students were challenged to find God in all things, especially in human creativity and historical tradition. This was far more than a technical course; it was an invitation to practice seeing the built-world through the lens of faith, tradition, and beauty.
As a testament to the program’s resounding success and robust curriculum, Belen was officially inducted as an institutional partner into the Florida Chapter of the ICAA, an organization whose mission is to “promote and advance the classical tradition in contemporary architecture, planning, and their allied arts and building crafts throughout the state of Florida.”
As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, we are excited to continue the New Heights Program and look forward to celebrating our students’ creative journeys with a culminating portfolio exhibition.
The start of the New Heights Program is our commitment to Academic Excellence, Critical Thinking and Innovation as outlined in Belen’s Strategic Plan.