Welcome to the latest issue of Sweet Sparkman | In Detail, where we share an insight into the art of architecture, a look at some of our projects, and news about our staff and organization. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into our practice and the many directions our profession takes us. If there's a particular project or topic you'd like us to address, let us know. We want "In Detail" to be a forum for enthusiasts of all things architecture and interior design, as well as those merely curious about the process.

Visual Arts in Motion

An in-depth look at the Basch Visual Arts Center of Ringling College

Our latest project video explores one of the most ambitious projects we've been privileged to undertake. The Richard and Barbara Basch Visual Arts Center on the Ringling College campus allowed us to leverage the full sum of our design firm's innovation in the service of an art school that champions creativity. In this video, take an in-depth look at the project's salient features that help make the building such a striking landmark for the campus community.

Click here to watch the video.

A New Wave

The Binnacle House exemplifies a new trend in big design on a small footprint

While the coast of Florida is dotted with homes of impressive scale, a recent trend in second homes has seen owners request smaller, more practical homes that make an outsized visual statement. Our new video about The Binnacle project explores this trend as we take a look at how the 2,500-SF home maximizes every square inch while the wave-like roof structure makes it look like a “piece of art,” as the owners describe it.

Click here to watch the video.


Extreme Fire Station Design

Sweet Sparkman founder pens an article for Firehouse Magazine

One of the things Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors prides itself on is a team of many talents, interests, and disciplines. This broad approach to creativity starts with co-founder Todd Sweet. In the May edition of Firehouse Magazine, Sweet showcases his expertise with an editorial that explores the unique characteristics of firehouse design.

Check out the article here.

A Decade of Excellence

John Bryant, AIA, LEED AP, Principal celebrates 10 years with Sweet Sparkman

Time flies when you're working hard! Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors would like to congratulate our friend and colleague, John Bryant, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, for a prolific decade with the team. John has been instrumental in some of our marquee projects, including the Basch Visual Arts Center, Fruitville Elementary, Siesta Key Beach Pavilion, and more. His tireless work, professionalism, creativity, and exemplary ability to collaborate with stakeholders have helped yield our firm multiple awards in multiple industries. We’re excited to see where the next 10 years take us.

Three New Hires

Sweet Sparkman brings in more expertise and creativity

We are proud to announce the addition of even more talent, expertise, and creativity to the Sweet Sparkman team. Our three new hires bring a wealth of energy and breadth of perspectives, representing our commitment to excellence, collaboration, and diversity. Please welcome to the team:

Richard W. Kuhn, AIA, NCARB, joins us in the continuation of a 35-year design career in which he earned more than 50 design awards. He recently served as Design Director/Principal/Lead Designer for Perkins + Will Architects' Boston office. Richard brings his vast experience with education, civic, and public service projects to our dynamic portfolio of work.

Ram Venkat, AIA, looks forward to sharing his experience designing for educational institutions with our firm. Hailing from Ithaca, NY, Ram served as Senior Project Manager for Cornell University's facility department, managing complex renovations and new construction for the illustrious Ivy League campus. He strives to bring rich character and meaning into his designs, which will serve the team well in the many education projects to come.  

Giselle Vera, a Venezuelan architect with 15+ years of experience, brings a truly international perspective to our team. After growing up in Rome, Italy, she enjoyed a career in Caracas, Venezuela doing set design for film and television before founding and managing two construction and interior design companies. Giselle’s expertise lies in weaving textured surfaces into conformable, functional surroundings.

Connecting

Sweet Sparkman | In Detail allows us to share select updates and show you glimpses behind the scenes at Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors. We hope you'll also connect with us via Instagram and LinkedIn.

Of course, our favorite way to connect is by talking. That's the best way to hear what's on your mind and share ideas about the projects that are important to you. One way or another, let's connect!

The Sweet Sparkman Team

June 8, 2022