Cultural Center at Clemente Park
Thank you for taking the time to explore our vision for the Cultural Center at Clemente Park. Our team has already invested considerable time learning about the Dunbar and Fort Myers communities, and we hope these early design explorations reflect both our excitement for the project and our commitment to creating a Cultural Center shaped by the people it will serve. It would be an honor to serve as your architects and partner with the City of Fort Myers, the Lee County Black History Society, and the community to bring that vision to life.
What We Heard
Preliminary Community Survey
In May 2026, our team conducted a voluntary electronic survey distributed through local contacts and neighborhood networks to better understand early community priorities. While not a substitute for the City's formal public engagement process, the survey provided valuable insight into the hopes, concerns, and aspirations of residents and stakeholders.
>>>>>>Click here to view the survey results as a PDF.
Early Design Explorations
Every meaningful civic building begins with listening.
As part of our preparation for the Cultural Center at Clemente Park, the SOLSTICE + Quinn Evans team conducted preliminary research into the site, the Dunbar neighborhood, and the aspirations expressed by community members. The concepts presented below are not proposed designs, but rather early explorations intended to demonstrate the range of architectural possibilities for the project.
Should our team be selected, the Cultural Center would be shaped through a comprehensive public engagement process with the City of Fort Myers, the Lee County Black History Society, neighborhood residents, and project stakeholders. The final design will reflect the community's vision, priorities, and identity.
Artwork Notice: Several concept renderings incorporate representative artwork by Challen Rivera solely to illustrate how local and regional art could be thoughtfully integrated into the Cultural Center. All artwork remains the property of its respective artist and is shown for conceptual purposes only.
Option 1 - One Story
Illustrative Concept Only
Prepared to demonstrate possible architectural directions. The final design will be developed collaboratively through community and stakeholder engagement.
A welcoming one-story cultural center organized beneath a distinctive butterfly roof that creates abundant natural daylight, collects rainwater, and establishes a memorable civic identity. The building emphasizes openness, accessibility, and a strong visual connection to Roberto Clemente Park.
Option 2 - Two-story
Illustrative Concept Only
Prepared to demonstrate possible architectural directions. The final design will be developed collaboratively through community and stakeholder engagement.
A two-story concept centered around a generous covered outdoor gathering space that functions as an extension of the building itself. The terraced portico creates opportunities for performances, community events, shaded circulation, and informal social interaction while strengthening the relationship between the Cultural Center and the surrounding park.
Option 3 - Phased
Illustrative Concept Only
Prepared to demonstrate possible architectural directions. The final design will be developed collaboratively through community and stakeholder engagement.
A flexible one-story concept organized around a courtyard that serves as the heart of the campus. The plan is intentionally designed to support phased construction, allowing the Cultural Center to grow over time as funding becomes available while maintaining a complete and functional first phase.
Great civic buildings are not defined by architecture alone—they are defined by the people they serve. We hope these early explorations communicate our excitement for this project, our commitment to listening first, and our belief that, together, we can create a Cultural Center worthy of Dunbar's remarkable history and even brighter future.
Thank you.
