Sarasota Architects Sweep the 2024 Florida AIA Awards
Image: Ryan Gamma
Sarasota-based architects and their firms made out like Oppenheimer at the Oscars for the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects, (AIA Florida) 2024 Design and Honor Awards—even against chapters in larger metropolitan cities like Miami, Palm Beach, Tampa and Orlando, which have almost triple the membership.
"We always rank high in proportion to our size," says Anita Keitel, president of the AIA Florida Gulf Coast chapter, which also earned the Anthony “Tony” Pullara award for the third time in roughly 60 years. "It's a clear indication this community of architects is dedicated to design first and is also showing a high commitment to design that is climatically appropriate."
AIA Florida has more than 3,600 members and covers the Florida/Caribbean region including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are 13 chapters represented. To be eligible, submissions had to come from Florida-based firms and architects but could be executed anywhere in the world. The jury convened in Seoul this spring to evaluate works submitted by architects in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Awards, spanning Honor, Merit and Citation, will be presented on July 20 at the Breakers in Palm Beach. The year also saw some Sarasota-based Honor Award recipients, including the great Victor Lundy, who earned a Medal of Honor for Design Award. Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith, AIA, received the Charles W. Clary Government Service Award, and Nate Yoder won the Allied Member of the Year.
Many of the winners are familiar to architecture aficionados, and we've written about them as rising industry stars. Here's a look at who won what this year.
Halflants + Pichette: Merit Award of Excellence for New Work
Image: Bill Spear
Lear Studio: Citation Award of Excellence for New Work and Merit Award for Masonry
Image: Ryan Gamma
Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors: Citation Award of Excellence in New Work for The Bay Park/The Nest
Image: Ryan Gamma
Schimberg Group: Citation Award of Excellence for New Work, Merit Award for Masonry for Resilient Retreat
Image: Venjhamin Reyes
Halflants + Pichette: Citation Award of Excellence New Work for Zahrada I
Image: Bill Spear
Lear Studio Architecture & Design: Citation Award of Excellence in Renovations and Additions for a Phillippi Creek Home
Image: Nicholas Ferris
Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors: Citation Award of Excellence in Renovations and Additions for Gulf Gardens Home on Longboat Key
Image: Ryan Gamma
Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors: Merit Award of Excellence and Sustainability for Sarasota County Fire Station No. 13 on Siesta Key
Image: Ryan Gamma
WJ Architects, Inc.: Citation Award of Excellence in Sustainability for Clearwater Beach Fire Station No. 46
Image: Ryan Gamma
Guy Peterson OFA: Honor Award in 'Test of Time' for a Sanderling Home on Siesta Key
Image: Ryan Gamma
Damien Blumetti Architect: Honor Award for Unbuilt Projects, The Art House in Nokomis
Image: Courtesy Photo
PS Design Workshop: Merit Award for Unbuilt Projects, 340 Treasure Boat Way, Sarasota
Image: Courtesy Photo
WJ Architects, Inc.: Citation Award for Unbuilt Projects, City Hall, Clearwater
Image: Courtesy Photo
Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors: Citation Award for Unbuilt Projects for this Eckerd College Cafe Addition, St. Petersburg
Image: Courtesy Photo
Damien Blumetti Architect: Citation Award for Unbuilt Projects for Estero House in Bonita Springs
Image: Courtesy Photo
Halflants + Pichette: Citation Award for Unbuilt Projects for Villa Ballada Condos in the Rosemary District
Image: Studio Horak
Check out last year's winners here.
