CASE STUDIES &
WHITE PAPERS

Every project is different, presenting unique challenges and aspirations. The following case studies and white papers capsulize the intricacies of design and effective resolution of issues.

A COASTAL COLLEGE AND A CHANGING CLIMATE
RESILIENCE PLANNING AND FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE
Located along Tampa Bay and Frenchman Creek in St. Petersburg, Florida, Eckerd College is expected to experience lasting impacts of climate change in the coming decades.
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FIRE TRAINING FOR A NEW ERA
DESIGNING AN ADVANCED FACILITY
Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors has had a long relationship with the City of Cape Coral, designing a series of firehouses to accommodate the area’s booming growth.
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HURRICANES AND PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES
A look at past disasters to prepare for the future
Taking a look at recent hurricane devastations from an architectural perspective centered on Florida, our firm addresses future challenges the area faces and defines what can be done for public service buildings.
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Navigating The Complexities Of Coastal Architecture
Preserving The Coveted Waterfront View
Our firm embarked on a multi-year, multi-phase renovation, unique in both its architecture and the challenges it presented, to create an innovative contemporary coastal home while preserving the original framework.
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WHEN RESILIENCY MEETS AESTHETICS
Public safety, public style.
When the Town of Longboat Key was ready to update one if its aging fire stations, they needed a design that took into account resiliency, style, and the safety of its first responders.
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Renovation of The Round House
An architectural jewel.
The Round House is an iconic structure in which a renovation required deep respect for its original design.
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William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library
Something for everyone.
Accommodating adult, young adult and children’s programming, this new facility includes PC workstations and charging stations, a multi-purpose meeting room, a conference room, a makerspace, and group study and tutoring rooms.
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Fire Station Design For Cancer Prevention
Protecting our protectors.
Firefighters have higher rates of certain cancers than the general population. The architectural design of fire stations can play a huge role in its prevention.
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RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN BASCH VISUAL ARTS CENTER
A showcase for creativity.
In two separate spaces split by a walkway, the Basch Visual Arts Center houses a ceramic and glass art studio, an art gallery, six classrooms, and other fine arts studios. Its design expresses the importance of art in the community.
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Sarasota Co. Fire Station #13
Coastal design continuity.
This station was an exercise in using color and materials to update an existing design for a new site.
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Beirut Peacekeepers Memorial Tower
Designed to honor those who serve.
A symbol at William R. Gaines Jr. Veterans Memorial Park that honors victims of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings.
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Sarasota County Fire Station #8
Responding to the needs of first responders and the communities they serve.
Crafting a functional, comfortable and safe home away from home for first responders is essential for fire station design initiatives.
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Lovers Key Welcome & Discovery Center
Building for coastal resiliency.
The new structure educates visitors about the area’s diverse coastal ecosystems.
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Empathy In Architecture
Understanding the people in the process.
Architecture should not be about the architect. With an empathetic approach, architects can enrich the lives and experiences of occupants, not just through aesthetics but also functionality.
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COVID-19: AN ARCHITECT’S PERSPECTIVE
Health, history and architecture.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impact, extending to the profession of architecture as well. In this paper, Sweet Sparkman looks at this phenomenon, providing perspective in the context of their primary areas of expertise.
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Siesta Key Beach Park
Design with a respect for nature and history.
Siesta Beach, located on a key off the coast of Sarasota, Florida, is acknowledged as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. As the beach’s fame grew over the decades, so did the number of guests. In 2010, Sweet Sparkman Architecture was chosen as Architect of Record, making improvements to the 60-acre public beach park.
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The Binnacle
An architectural “piece of art.”
When Diane DiCarlo and Jeanne Leszczynski decided to build a winter home in Florida, they had two main requirements: that the structure be a “piece of art” and that “every inch of space be useable space.” That’s all it took for architect Jerry Sparkman to create a concept that married stunning design with ultimate practicality.
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Triangle Ranch
Designing with respect for nature.
For more than a century, the Carlton family owned and worked Triangle Ranch. The last of the family owners, Tony and Lela Carlton, wanted the land to remain undeveloped and placed it in the hands of the Conservation Foundation to secure funding to purchase and restore the property.
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Fire Station Design
Providing public safety and civic pride.
At first glance, it may seem as though designing a fire station is an easy enough task. You take a couple of boxes, put them together, then park vehicles in one and house people in the other. In truth, that supposition is far from correct.
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Brentwood Elementary
Restoring and invigorating a neighborhood gem.
In 2017, the School Board of Sarasota County, Florida, chose Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors to make much needed improvements to Brentwood Elementary School, a 60-year-old complex nestled in the midst of single-family homes.
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