American Institute of Architects (AIA) Florida/Caribbean has named the 2021 recipients of its highest design awards recognizing architects throughout Florida and the Caribbean. Architect Jonathan Parks AIA of the Sarasota architecture firm SOLSTICE Planning and Architecture was bestowed with two design awards – the only firm this year to be recognized with more than one award. The mixed-use project Rosemary Square in Sarasota was recognized with a Citation Award for notable accomplishment and the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium Historic Rehabilitation received the Award of Merit for Historic Preservation. The awards ceremony will be held July 17th at the annual 2021 AIA Florida Convention at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.
“Both of these projects are intrinsic to the culture of Sarasota and it’s an honor they spoke to the design awards jury,” explained Jonathan Parks AIA. “The collaboration between client, contractor, and architect is what makes these types of innovative projects possible, so we want to recognize them for their insight and hard work.”
Rosemary Square was honored with a Citation Award - recognizing projects of notable accomplishment. The vision for Rosemary Square was to create a “living room” for the neighborhood. Situated along Boulevard of the Arts, there was a lack of cultural destinations positioned on the arts-named corridor. The vision of architect Jonathan Parks, AIA, was to re-energize the community by bringing arts to Boulevard of the Arts. Forming a hub for creativity, performance-based tenants of Rosemary Square now include such organizations as the Sarasota Ballet School, The Players Studio, and Sarasota Contemporary Dance. The Sarasota Opera houses their visiting artists within the thirty apartments. There are also murals and a sculpture for the visual arts and restaurants celebrating the culinary arts, including The Overton, Spice Station, Artisan Cheese, and Make it Swirl. Rosemary Square was built by Gilbane Building. Co. and SOLSTICE was commissioned by Rosemary Square, LLC, which includes Sarasota developer Mark Kauffman. The architect for the project was Jonathan Parks AIA and the project manager was Selma Göker Wilson, INT’L ASSOC. AIA, RIBA. View this 90 second YouTube video to learn more about the project.
The Sarasota Municipal Auditorium historic rehabilitation was honored with a Merit Award, recognizing projects that demonstrate a level of design that exemplifies superior achievements. Built for the City of Sarasota, the auditorium is one of the only remaining historic Art Deco buildings in Sarasota. Completed in 1938, it was designed by Thomas Reed Martin and Clarence A. Martin, and was listed with the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The building had fallen into disrepair following a series of ill-conceived renovations over the years. With a $500,000 historical preservation grant from the State of Florida, Jonathan Parks AIA was hired by the City of Sarasota to update and rehabilitate the historic structure. The careful historic rehabilitation was completed over a one-year period and has updated this iconic landmark for future generations. The architect for the project was Jonathan Parks AIA and the project manager was Selma Göker Wilson, INT’L ASSOC. AIA, RIBA. View this YouTube video to learn more about the project.
The 2021 Design Awards jury convened May 1st in New York City to decide the winners of the AIA Florida/Caribbean prizes and included Nader Tehrani, dean of The Cooper Union's Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, Gregg Pasquarelli, AIA, a founding principal of SHoP Architects, Hayley Eber, assistant dean at The Cooper Union Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, Stella Betts, partner at Levenbetts and Elisa Iturbe, co-founder of Outside Development, a design and research practice, and a professor at The Cooper Union.
To learn more about SOLSTICE Planning and Architecture, visit solsticearchitects.com