SOLSTICE Planning and Architecture

JONATHAN PARKS AIA

SOLSTICE PLANNING and A R C H I T E C T U R E

SolsticeArchitects.com 1900 Main Street, Suite 202, Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.5721 License No.: AA-26003286 | AR0017714

­ t SOLSTICE Planning and Architecture we believe that design, in its purest form, fulfills A functional and aesthetic requirements completely, elegantly and economically.

Jonathan Parks AIA founded SOLSTICE as a studio for talented problem-solvers working together to advance the principals of building design based on regionalism, cultural history, function, structure, and natural light. Inspired by the craft of building, the firm focuses on revealing the inherent beauty of each project in order to provide a compelling sense of place. Since the design studio’s inception nearly twenty years ago, SOLSTICE and its predecessor firm have received over ninety awards towards the advancement of architecture, planning, preservation, and sustainability. Known for custom contemporary designs and high profile projects like the Art Ovation Hotel and the St. Armands Parking Garage, our work is seen as a response to modernism – a return to regionalism and artistry, where clients’ projects are developed with the “heads, hearts, and hands” of all those involved. Based within Sarasota, our experience in the City includes over seventy local projects. We've also collaborated directly with city staff, working for twelve years as part of the City of Sarasota's continuing services contract.

Demonstrating a commitment to sustainable design, a number of the firm’s LEED Platinum homes and structures have been rated among the most energy-efficient in the nation. The ideal project focuses on quality design and the craft of construction, using the most up-to-date means and methods available. The result is an environment where space, form, and architecture matters.

Art Ovation Hotel, Sarasota

Sustainability SOLSTICE is fully committed to creating architecture that is sustainable in every sense – environmentally, economically, and culturally. We design with an environmental consciousness.

Our architects and designers are committed to preserving natural resources, and they work carefully to include them as project features. We also utilize many of the techniques and materials that are essential to meaningful sustainability, such as building systems commissioning; construction waste management; water-conserving plumbing features; low VOC paints, adhesive, and sealant; recycled materials and increased access to natural daylight. These strategies provide a high-quality environment for the client and make a lasting contribution to present and future generations. Additionally, our firm has extensive experience with the design and construction of buildings and homes that are LEED and Florida Green Building Coalition Certified. With a green philosophy that states, “the most energy-efficient light fixture is the one you never have to turn on,� the firm designs timeless structures in which natural light, form, site orientation, and building envelope are the greatest contributors to energy efficiency. This has lead to a number of our LEED projects being recognized as some of the most energy efficient in the United States.

Rosemary Square, The Overton

Recognitions and awards for sustainability • Multiple LEED Platinum projects rated among the highest in the state of Florida and the nation for energy efficiency • Multiple LEED Gold projects • Merit Award for Sustainability, AIA Florida • Sustainability Design Award, AIA Tampa Bay • Parksmart Silver, Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) • LEED Homes Awards, Finalist • Grand Aurora,Water-Wise Home • Grand Aurora, Energy Efficient Home • Aurora, Green Construction • Aurora, Solar Energy Home • Aurora, Water-Wise Home • Aurora, Energy Efficient Home • Silver, Sustainability, SRQ Home of the Year

• Platinum Award, Best Sustainable/ Green Project, SRQ Home of the Year • Silver Award for Sustainable, SRQ Home of the Year, SRQ Magazine • Aurora Award, Best Energy Efficient Home • Aurora Award, Best Water-Wise Home; • Aurora Award, Best Solar Energy Efficient House • Aurora Award, Best Natural Gas Single Family Home • LEEDership Award, US Green Building Council Tampa Bay Chapter • Green Construction, Aurora Award

Modern design At SOLSTICE, our goal is to create inspiring, timeless architecture with importance placed not only on the tangible, such as volume and shape, but also on immaterial elements such as transparency, light, and space. Our aesthetic favors clean, straight lines, and uncluttered spaces. We embrace the use of natural materials, light-filled spaces, and a connection to the outdoors.

We believe every design should be a portrait of the individual, group, or community it was intended for, and not merely an extension of the architect who brought it to life. The strikingly unique character of each design speaks to our dedication to creating dynamic architecture and interiors centered on the particular aspects of each project and client. Ultimately, our firm values the individual’s experience: before a pencil ever hits paper, we carefully consider all aspects of the site and the people the project is intended for. We design for your needs, while striking a balance between rationalism and romanticism.

Compass Haus, LEED Platinum

Palm Avenue Parking Garage, LEED Gold

Parking garage strengths and sustainability Parking structures are essential components of the built environment. Owners have realized that accommodations for parking often represent the first and last impression that their users experience. The quality of parking can be a pivotal factor in determining the level of resident satisfaction. Creating an attractive, functional, and durable parking structure is a critical objective in not only the design and construction of the project but also in its environmental impact. We believe that for a structure to be truly sustainable, it must be economically viable, functional for the long term, and desirable for potential users. SOLSTICE has completed two high profile parking structures for the City of Sarasota, receiving recognitions for design, architecture, public involvement, and sustainability.

Palm Avenue Parking Garage, Sarasota, Florida • LEED-CS (Core & Shell) v3 Gold • Merit Award for Sustainability, AIA Florida • Grand Aurora, Commercial Project/Public Works/ Environmental Projects, Aurora Awards • Aurora Award, Commercial Project/Public Works/ Environmental Projects, Aurora Awards • Award of Excellence, Parking Structure, Architecture, Florida Parking Association • “Grand Prize” Category and “Most Beautiful” Category, International Parking Institute • Award of Merit, Transportation, ENR Southeast • Outstanding Public Development, Florida Planning and Zoning Association

St. Armands Parking Garage, Sarasota, FL • Parksmart Silver, Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) • All Precast Concrete Solution, PCI Design Awards • All Precast Concrete Parking Structure, PCI Design Awards • Awards of Merit for Design and Architecture, Florida Parking and Transportation Association • American Society of Civil Engineers Project of the Year Award, Florida Engineering Society Myakka Chapter • Platinum Winner, 4Walls, SRQ Magazine

St. Armands Parking Garage, Sarasota - ParkSmart Silver

PROJECT EXAMPLE - Artful Hospitality in Downtown Sarasota Art Ovation Hotel, Sarasota, Florida The Art Ovation Hotel in downtown Sarasota serves as a connector between cultural institutions, galleries, restaurants, and shops. The challenge was to design a hotel for those in search of an authentic Sarasota experience while enhancing the vibrant streetscape. Conceived as a companion to the Palm Avenue Garage, the goal was to embrace a complementary modern aesthetic and extend the pedestrian-flow of Palm and Cocoanut Avenues. Recognizing Sarasota’s cultural identity, the architect envisioned a hotel dedicated to the arts.

Where many buildings are designed to maximize buildable square footage, the scheme reduced density and height to respect the neighborhood’s existing scale. The form aligns with Palm and then curves north along Cocoanut and is positioned to create wide sidewalks, enhanced with expansive curving canopies.

Connecting to the garage, a free-form skybridge covers guests as they walk from their parked cars; its form, an abstract nod to the neighboring Sarasota School of Architecture building.

Art Ovation Hotel, Sarasota

The curving lobby follows the façade’s lines and lifts the building on a “ribbon of light”. This all-day space is designed so guests can comfortably mingle, enjoy refreshments, entertainment, and the original art collection and exhibitions. There’s a restaurant, bar, and ballroom. Guest rooms include original curated artwork through a partnership with Ringling College.

Aiming to transform visitors arriving via vehicles into pedestrians as quickly as possible, there’s a drop-off canopy on one side and a veranda and skybridge on the other. These connection points are then extended into the lobby, giving visitors a range of transportation options upon arrival - walking, cycling and public transit. The number of on-site code-required parking spaces were minimized and moved to the backside. Natural daylighting, energy-efficient windows, low-flow plumbing, and Florida-friendly landscaping was used. Rooftop rainwater is collected into a 100,000-gallon subterranean cistern.

The result is a true reflection of the Sarasota experience.

PROJECT EXAMPLE - The "Living Room" for the Neighborhood Rosemary Square, Sarasota, Florida The Rosemary District is near downtown Sarasota, known as the Cultural Capital of Florida.

The vision for Rosemary Square was to create a “living room” for the neighborhood which had become rundown over recent decades and without a public park. The architect’s goal was to re-energize the community by finally bringing arts to Boulevard of the Arts.

The resulting scheme was designed as three buildings positioned to make a community square.

The concept was to prioritize the space in between the buildings in concert with how the buildings touch the street, addressing the pedestrian scale and nurturing daily human interaction. Organic walking patterns were studied and addressed. Outdoor hallways create cross ventilation and lead to the square where open-air dining, festivals, markets, even movies, are enjoyed.

To keep the rents accessible for non-profits, an industrial aesthetic combines functionality with design. Concrete blocks and galvanized metal evoke the feeling of a warehouse district. Vivid colors accent outdoor hallways, urging pedestrians to discover new pathways.

Rosemary Square

Tenants now include Sarasota Ballet School, Players Studio, and Sarasota Contemporary Dance. Sarasota Opera houses their visiting artists within thirty apartments – walkable to the historic opera house. A courtyard sculpture and murals by local artists were commissioned.

The Overton is an open-air restaurant in the courtyard that embodies the spirit of Rosemary Square using materials like recycled plywood, transparent garage doors, copper piping, and abundant potted vegetation.

The color palette is mostly white to reduce heat absorption. Large overhangs form shade.

Natural daylighting, energy-efficient windows, LED lighting, low VOC finishes, a wellinsulated building envelope, low-flow plumbing, Florida-friendly landscaping, and EnergyStar appliances are used. Permeable walkway pavers and an underground water-vault provide rainwater management. Near public transportation, bike racks encourage a carbon-free alternative.

With the project’s completion, the surrounding neighborhood exploded with activity including 1,500 new housing units within walking distance.

Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico

PROJECT EXAMPLE - Historic Hotel Restoration on Challenging Coastal Site Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico SOLSTICE collaborated with Marvel & Marchand Architects on the restoration and renovation of this 125,000 square foot historic hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The resort, originally designed by acclaimed architect Whitney Warren in 1919, needed to be restored and renovated to achieve a five-star, five-diamond rating. With the hotel’s new adjoining towers already under construction, the owner needed to complete the public and “back of house” areas on a very aggressive project schedule.

The foremost challenge was the need to preserve the historic ambiance of the hotel while adding new subterranean parking and “back of house” facilities. In order to achieve this, the building required massive underpinnings while excavating the required 25 feet below the historic hotel in order to create the parking and provide underground access between the new and existing structures. Another challenge was that the entire site lies within a designated

seismic earthquake zone, as well as a high-velocity hurricane wind zone with parts of the structure sitting within five feet of the Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, it was necessary to update the hotel with modern conveniences, new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and state-of-the-art technologies without losing the old-world charm of the historic hotel.

In order to preserve the existing building, a specialized structural system was designed to separate the new construction from the existing construction. SOLSTICE made waterproofing the structure paramount and coordinated with leading waterproofing specialists to ensure that sub-grade conditions remain highly water resistive. To maintain the classic white-glove ambiance, SOLSTICE worked not only with Marvel and Marchand Architects but also in concert with one of Puerto Rico’s most renowned interior designers in order to specify fixtures, finishes, and furniture that complemented the building. Finally, SOLSTICE constructed a complete 3D model of the existing structure and new mechanical/plumbing systems to conduct conflict analysis. The desired project schedule was achieved through creating strong avenues of communication between regional consultants and enforcing aggressive, yet achievable, milestones. The result is one of Puerto Rico’s only five-star, five-diamond hotels, strongly contributing to the Condado district's revitalization and improvement plans.

Element House, Sarasota - LEED Platinum

Contact Jonathan Parks, AIA 941.365.5721 info@solsticearchitects.com

SolsticeArchitects.com info@solsticearchitects.com 1900 Main Street, Ste. 202, Sarasota, FL 34236