Sarasota Aspects Cited By A Panel Of Awardees From The 2021 APA Annual Meeting

Sarasota architects have garnered nationwide attention and praise since the turn of the millennium. This city, located on the Gulf of Mexico, has a rich tradition in the architectural and design industry. As a result, Sarasota has hosted some of the most prestigious events such as the International Academy of Architecture Exhibition and the Sarasota International Design Festival. This Sarasota publication highlights those whose work has made Sarasota a haven for talented design professionals. It seeks to promote exemplary architects through recognition of their hard work, commitment to their community, and contributions to society.

Sarasota's awardees this year are: Annie Rankin, Chair of Department of Urban Design & Architecture at the University of Sarasota/College of Art and Design; John Van De Ruit, a former architectural firm owner who now serves as the Executive Vice-President of Van De Ruit and Associates; Frank Gillispie, principal of Gillispie Equity Management, a Sarasota-based real estate management firm; and Greg Burris, a Sarasota attorney and member of the Board of Architects of America. The Sarasota Design Awards, of course, are given out at the annual meeting of the AIA Sarasota and the Sarasota International Design Festival. Among the honoring categories this year are the best design projects in Sarasota and the top ten projects from around the nation. The winning project will be announced at the AIA Sarasota exhibit and festival.

Among the five recipients of an honor award is the Office for Architecture at the University of Sarasota/College of Art and Design, which is recognized for a portfolio that "exceeds the expectations of those who have seen it." Annie Rankin, a Sarasota resident and recipient of this award, has worked with local, state, and federal agencies to design residential and commercial spaces. She has also used her experience in architecture to create accessible spaces in buildings for those with disabilities. Another awardee is Robert Wegner, who is a principal of San Francisco's SOMA Architects, a prominent contractor that focuses on building for the environmentally conscious. In his award-winning portfolio, Wegner focused on waterfront areas, highlighting waterfalls and other natural wonders. Wegner is known for his environmentally-friendly designs.

Other awardees this year include: Mark Taperoff, who is an awardee of the Sarasota Design Awards for his design of the Miami-Dade County Public Library System; Jerry Atkins, a principal of Atkins Architects, who is a recipient of an architectural award from the American Society of Landscape Architects in Sarasota; and John McKnight, principal of McKnight Associates, a Sarasota-based landscape design firm. Among the other professional awardees are: Paul Coelho, principal and executive creative director of Zocalo Fine Arts Center in Sarasota; Jack Welch, former chief executive of Apple Computer and current member of the boards of directors of the Scott Hamilton Company and the Coors Energy Companies, and Frank Lloyd Wright, who is a Sarasota architectural principal and consultant. More than 50 Sarasota-based companies and businesses were represented at the awards ceremony. In addition, more than two dozen new projects were announced and more awards were made recognizing quality work by local and national awardees.

The fact that Sarasota has been selected as one of the cities that will be represented at the APA's national convention is an indication of just how proud Sarasota architects are of their city and the results of their hard work and dedication. As a result, many prominent architectural awardees decided to base their practices in Sarasota. One of those being Frank Lloyd Wright, who was born and raised in Sarasota. He chose to build his practice there because it was close to home. Also receiving an award from the APA was the late Ray Bradshaw, principal of Bradshaw Architects in Sarasota.

As seen through the awardees that received awards this past year, Sarasota is not only a place of business for developers. It is also a cultural hub with a wide variety of theaters, museums, and other entertainment opportunities for all ages. Sarasota is also growing into a more environmentally conscious city. This has been indicated by awardees such as tearing down a portion of an old warehouse to make way for a brand new office building. Also included in the list of notable awardees are those that made use of innovative sustainable building practices, such as incorporating the use of a recycled roof to reduce heat loss.