SOLSTICE in 2023: A Year in Review
We just about made it to 2024! It's been another exciting year at SOLSTICE and as is tradition, we are sharing some of our favorite highlights from 2023.
Pictured above, the SOLSTICE team in December 2023 in front of our projects, the Palm Avenue Parking Garage, Bar Hana, and Palm Avenue Deli. Left to right: Chris, Roy, Julia, Jonathan, Kathryn, Amely, Chandler, Katrina.
This team also includes Angela, Kira, Ruchi, and Rucha.
Check Out the Latest in Award-Winning Design!
It was an honor to have our projects recognized with numerous design awards throughout the year.
The team was recognized in July at the AIA Florida Convention in Orlando for our work on the Umbrella House Facade Restoration - one of the most notable examples of the Sarasota School of Architecture by architect Paul Rudolph. The jury honored us with an Award of Merit for Historic Preservation and Restoration.
You can learn more about the renovation in this 3 minute YouTube video released in 2023 with Jonathan Parks AIA and Christopher Chudy AIA.
In October, the Society of American Registered Architects also recognized the Umbrella House Facade Restoration with the Design Award of Merit in their national awards ceremony in Philadelphia, PA (below). View all the award-winning projects here.
In November, two of our unbuilt projects won an award from the Global Design & Architecture Design Awards. MainView Sarasota won the First Award in Hospitality (Concept) and LightScreen won the Second Award in Private Residence (Concept). These awards recognize innovative, exceptional design across the world. You can view all the winners here.
In the same month, SOLSTICE was bestowed with two design awards from AIA Tampa Bay. Yet another one for the Umbrella House Facade Restoration and then in addition, we received the Honor Award for Sustainability (the highest honor) for the St. Armands Parking Garage.
Said the AIA Tampa Bay jury about the garage, “While it may feel counterintuitive to award a parking garage with a sustainability award, I was very impressed with this project’s integration of sustainability strategies in a way that contributes to an elegant design and a joyful visitor experience.”
(Above) Jonathan with Lee-En Chung, PE of Ivy Ventures who was the City of Sarasota's Project Manager for the St. Armands Parking Garage.
Whoa! That’s our name in lights
Earlier this month, the Element House and Compass Haus made it into a new book, Coastal Charm: Waterside Living. Check out Compass House on the front cover! The book can be purchased online at all major book retailers or click below.
Speaking of front cover, Element House also made it on the front cover (and story) of Elevate Magazine in April.
Our people and projects were also featured in:
Travel and Leisure Magazine with Art Ovation nominated for Sarasota's Best Hotel! Vote here (beware, they put your through a few hoops first)
General Contractor Magazine named us "The Best Interior Architects in Florida" and "The Best Residential Architects in Florida"
The Redfin Blog interviewed Jonathan with "Essential Questions to Ask a Residential Architect Before Hiring Them"
The World of Interiors Magazine asked Jonathan about our renovation to the Van Wezel public spaces in "Landmark in Lavender"
Palm Avenue Deli got all sorts of fanfare after opening. Here's a popular segment on Fox 13 from November.
New projects in pictures
Sitting on a corner lot overlooking the Sarasota Bay, this private residence is just closing out of construction. Many congratulations to our clients and Synergy Builders!
(above) Palm Avenue Deli. Located on the ground floor of Palm Avenue Parking Garage, this contemporary New York Jewish style deli combines a 1950's diner aesthetic with the iconic delis of New York.
Right next door is Bar Hana, a tiki-inspired concept that fills a void in downtown Sarasota - a late night bar but with food available all day! We provided architectural services for our client, Hi Hospitality Group, along with our interior design friends at Blok Design.
A Year in Photos
SOLSTICE teamed with the strategic aviation and mobility consultant InterVISTAS for a new master planning project at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. In January, the team was interviewed and awarded the project!
One of our many lunch and learns throughout the year (this one in February), featuring WETSTYLE with wine and cheese!
Bar Hana by Kojo opened on Palm Avenue in Sarasota. We were there for the design and ribbon cutting in April!
Jonathan, Franca (an architecture student from Brazil we met), and Veronica (a summer intern who spent a lot of time drawing trees for us) go on a Siesta Key site visit.
In June, we celebrated the Summer Solstice at our first ever Summer SOLSTICE party at the newly-opened Palm Avenue Deli.
That would be Kathryn hamming it up on an architectural tour of the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts during the AIA Florida Convention in July.
Much to their horror and delight, we held a "Thesis Lunch" in July for all our interns and recent graduates. Alan's was on religious structures, Amely's was about creating digital rooms/environments, Chandler's focused on New College and adapting the campus to sea level rise, and Kira (who hadn't even finished her thesis yet) shared her early research on ski lodges.
Kira, Katrina, Julia, and Jonathan visit the Tampa Ikea.
In September, we spotted the PGT truck in St. Pete that features the Compass Haus. Kathryn screamed in the car so loud Jonathan thought there was something seriously wrong.
Jonathan going back to his roots while in Philly in October. Here he is visiting his graduate alma mater, University of Pennsylvania.
In November, we got to hang out with office alumni, Stefania, at the AIA Tampa Bay awards ceremony.
Jonathan was asked to come back to University at Buffalo and give a lecture on his career in architecture. While he was there, he got to see some old architecture buddies, Michael Chadwick and Francisco Hidalgo. It's been quite a year for architecture stories.
Also in November, Jonathan served as Architect/Tour Guide for Sarasota Mod Weekend, presenting a renovation and addition for a Jack West house on Siesta Key the office completed over a decade ago.
Finally, On the Boards
As yet unpublished, have a first look at these select projects - coming soon!
In Sarasota, this West of the Trail home is out of permitting and ready for construction! (Rendering above)
A rendering of the new master plan for the airport.
