PROTECTING THE PAST SUPPORTING THE FUTURE
How one of Sarasota’s oldest construction firms continues to shape the Gulf Coast through craftsmanship, care, and community.
Deep Roots, Strong Foundations “I’m always trying to find out what’s new and upcoming in the community to see how Willis Smith can offer our help and support,” says President and CEO John LaCivita. “We have a long history here in Sarasota and we feel we have a lot to bring to the table. I was born and raised in Sarasota, so I take a lot of pride in it.” Since 1972, Willis Smith Construction has helped shape the community and cultural fabric of Sarasota. What began with founder Willis A. Smith’s commitment to integrity and hard work has grown into a construction management firm trusted across the region for its precision, relationships, and results. For LaCivita, who has been with the company for 28 years leading it from a small but respected builder into one of the largest construction management firms in the region, with over $250 million in annual revenue, a $900 million bonding capacity, and a team of 90+ employees, that evolution is personal. “When I joined, we were doing more industrial metal buildings. We were a Pre-engineered Metal Building dealer for Butler Manufacturing, during that time we installed over a million square feet of metal roofs just in our region. Industrial back then was a pretty healthy industry,” LaCivita explains. “As that evolved and changed, we got more involved in the arts community and that’s when Ringling College of Art and Design took us under their wing. They were a small college at the time and we essentially grew with them. I think part of the reason we are who we are today is because we embraced our Sarasota Arts world, from the 32-year history at Ringling College of Art & Design, the 2007-2008 Sarasota Opera House renovation, our 25-years at the FSU/Ringling Museum, even the 1999-2000 major renovation to Venice Little Theatre at the time.”
Sarasota Art Museum
FROM CURTAIN WALLS TO CURTAIN CALLS
Willis Smith’s work in arts, education, and preservation reflects its deep commitment to Sarasota’s identity. The firm’s portfolio reads like a love letter to the region: Ringling College of Art and Design; The Sarasota Opera House; The historic Sarasota County Courthouse Tower; The Binz Building, now home to the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe; and Phase One of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ master plan are just a few of the firms culturally significant projects.
That spirit of community engagement was amplified after constructing the Sarasota Chamber in 2002, LaCivita went through the Chamber’s Leadership Sarasota program in 2003-2004, a tradition that Willis Smith executives and employees continue to take part in. As part of the program, the class collaborates on a group project that will leave a lasting impact on the community, often in a way that benefits a nonprofit organization. That mentality is something that has become one of the three Core Values at Willis Smith.
“In my younger Project Manager years here at the company, we were redoing the John Ringling’s Ca’ d’Zan air conditioning system. It had a standalone chiller system, which was outdated and unnecessary because we had just installed a central energy plant on their 64-acre campus chiller line loop for the entire FSU/Ringling Museum Campus,” says LaCivita. “We knew Mote Marine was also working on getting their sturgeon farm up and running and was struggling with water temperatures. By connecting The Ringling with Mote Marine, we were able to work out a deal where Mote could take the old chiller from Ca’ d’Zan and move it to their Fruitville AquaCulture property. Ringling got this unnecessary equipment removed, Mote got to utilize it, and it wouldn’t have happened had it not been for our connecting the dots. I look at that as a win-win for the community. We’re always trying to figure out how we can help every not-for-profit out there thrive, because as long as they’re thriving, our community’s thriving.” Willis Smith Construction has been working with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium for almost 40 years. It’s a relationship that has been a huge part of the foundation, growth and even the future of Willis Smith with their involvement on the new Mote Science Education Aquarium project that is currently in it’s final stages of construction. “Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has been incredibly well-served by partnering with Willis Smith Construction for nearly 39 years. Over this time, they have proven time and time again their ability to deliver exceptional results for our construction projects, showcasing both their technical expertise and steadfast reliability. The unparalleled expertise in construction management of Willis Smith allows them to handle every facet of the project efficiently and effectively, ensuring that everything is completed to the highest standards.” Michael P. Crosby PhD, President & CEO Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
“We protect our past so we can support our future.”
—John LaCivita, President & CEO
That same mindset drives the firm’s approach to nonprofit and community work. Whether restoring a landmark or rescuing a fundraiser, Willis Smith leads with purpose. Willis Smith is so passionate about supporting nonprofits in the community, and when you look at their company cultural and community section of their portfolio, you’ll find a lot of what some firms may tout as prestige projects. In addition to their extensive work for The Ringling Museum, Willis Smith has spearheaded many other big-Landmark builds. They’ve recently completed Phase One of Marie Selby Botanical Garden’s three-phase master plan, restored the historic 1913 Sarasota High School, renovated the historic Binz building that houses the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and completely restored the Sarasota Opera House in 2008, plus in 2014 built the Sarasota National Cemetery – Patriot Plaza with the Patterson Foundation just to name a few. But this is just a small part of what they do. And while they are undeniably proud of these projects that most people would instantly recognize, they take just as much pride in the builds that are less flashy and yet are so integral to the fabric of Sarasota.
Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA)
Historic Asolo Theater at The Ringling Sarasota Opera House
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Downtown Sarasota
BUILDING RESILIENCE,
ONE STATION AT A TIME
Fire stations. Libraries. High schools. Behind every structure is a story of service. In the last ten years, we’ve built 22 fire and EMS stations,” says Senior Marketing Specialist Kassandra Burdwood. “I think that really showcases how much we care about the infrastructure and safety of our community, and how we’re able to adapt to the evolving needs of our community. But yes, while we are doing that, when we restored the historic Sarasota High School, which is now the Sarasota Art Museum. We do the best of both worlds. We protected our past, and we supported the future of Sarasota, Manatee and Venice, and I think that’s our ultimate goal for years to come.”
In addition to the fire and EMS stations, Willis Smith has tackled several other municipal projects. Some won’t hold a lot of interest for the average person (unless you’re particularly passionate about Central Energy Plants), but others are relevant to the general public. Willis Smith has been responsible for building several local libraries for Sarasota, Manatee and North Port, including the relatively new Lakewood Ranch Library, which has already become a community hub with over 10,000 visitors a month.
But Willis Smith doesn’t stop there. The firm has delivered large and small projects for every level of education, from Sarasota High School’s transformation into the Sarasota Art Museum, to our region’s newest and largest public school, Wellen Park High School. “When I first joined this company, we only had 21 employees, our projects were very small compared to today, total company revenues were only $8.7M and this year we will exceed $250M and our bonding capacity is $900M with over 90 employees. Minor projects were our bread and butter,” says LaCivita. “We’ve never forgotten where we came from, it’s a stigma now that Willis Smith is too large for smaller projects and that is just not the truth. We will always continue to do smaller projects.”
This balance of growth and stability is central to Willis Smith’s identity. Even as it builds multi-phase master plans like Lakewood Ranch Waterside or North Port’s Downtown Wellen Park or the many cultural institutions and a 320,000 square foot Wellen Park High School, the company still takes on “smaller” projects, like renovating a library, repairing a community center, or even adding a new drinking fountain to a local school, because they know those projects matter just as much to the people they serve. “Education is a huge component of who we are, starting with both Sarasota County Schools and Manatee County Schools. Then we get into the surrounding university systems with Florida State University, New College, University of South Florida, State College of Florida and Ringling College - they’ve all embraced us,” says LaCivita. “We understand education systems and know exactly what it takes to deliver schools that meet or exceed all building codes. We also understand the non-negotiable reality of school construction; there’s a hard date when students need to walk through the doors and we have consistently delivered ahead of those deadlines. That’s why Sarasota County Schools entrusted us with the largest project in their history, the 320,000-square-foot Wellen Park High School. We’re proud of that trust, and we bring that same commitment to exceed expectations to every project we take on.”
House Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
Waterside Place Lakewood Ranch
Above: City of North Port Public Safety, Sarasota Fire Station No.8, Sarasota Fire Station No. 13
Wellen Park High School
A NATIONAL FIRM’S EXPERIENCE, A NEIGHBOR’S HEART
Just as no project is too small for Willis Smith, no project is too large. While for-profit and nonprofit organizations sometimes choose national firms for larger projects, believing they bring more experience, that perception is entirely misguided. According to LaCivita, this is a 100% false narrative. The real issue lies in a widespread misunderstanding of the role of a Construction Manager and, more importantly, the unique value that a local Construction Manager brings to the table.
“We have ninety-plus employees and more than half of them came from those larger firms. Their resumes are so stellar. Our employee resume includes a 35-story building in New York City; Federal Buildings for the U.S. Government and even a Nuclear Plant. Our team is so deep with experience,” he says. “We can build anything a National or International firms can build in this community and give them real service and we’re going to be here when the job is done.” That is real value that is priceless. We say many times that might not have built this exact building, because no two projects are ever the same. What we have done is successfully deliver dozens of highly complex, first-of-their-kind facilities by assembling the right team, leveraging our proven processes, and collaborating closely with owners and designers. Our track record shows that when faced with something new, we adapt quickly, anticipate challenges, and deliver exceptional results. That’s exactly what sets Willis Smith Construction apart from others and why you want us on your project.”
That’s why Willis Smith is uniquely positioned: national expertise with local commitment.
“I’ve worked for a national firm before, and that’s why Willis Smith was so much more attractive to me,” Burdwood adds. “We may build something beautiful and shiny like a brand-new high school, but what really matters is that in five years, if a major hurricane comes through and rips a portion of the roof from that school, we’re going to be out there the next day covering it up and getting ready to fix it. That’s going to happen before we sign a contract, because that’s our name, those are our people, and we’re not going to let our local community down.”
Those might sound like nice words, but Willis Smith can back them up with actions. Construction management isn’t just about schedules and budgets, it’s about relationships and trust. And sometimes, that means answering the phone when others wouldn’t. LaCivita recounts two moments that embody the company’s “all in” commitment. “On the eve of a major event at The Ringling, a tent vendor drove a stake through the campus fire main. By the time Willis Smith got the call, water was shooting into the air. The team worked overnight with subcontractors to repair the damage. By morning, the grounds were pristine, and the event went on without a hitch.” Another great example of Willis Smith going above the call of duty was when “just days before classes began at Ringling College, a new academic building flooded with 20,000 gallons of water due to a malfunctioning cistern pump. Project Manager Taylor Aultman left his Labor Day weekend plans, mobilized the team, and worked through the weekend to ensure the building was ready for students by Tuesday,” recounts LaCivita. For a construction management firm whose core values are “Care for our Employees, Client Focused, and Community Engagement” it is no surprise that LaCivita had many similar stories where Willis Smith showed up when others may not have. “We approach every project with the same urgency, dedication, and personal commitment,” says LaCivita.
LOOKING AHEAD: BUILDING SARASOTA’S NEXT CHAPTER
While the company is deeply rooted in tradition, it’s also preparing for the future. From small renovations to historic restorations and vital infrastructure, Willis Smith Construction continues to be a steadfast partner in building Sarasota’s future. From embracing advanced construction technology to championing sustainable building practices and investing in workforce development, Willis Smith is building more than structures, they’re building a legacy. One rooted in pride, powered by people, and led by purpose. “Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, and the surrounding counties are growing fast,” says LaCivita. “Our role is to make sure that growth is responsible, beautiful, and lasting.”
Founded: 1972
Annual Revenue: $250M+
Bonding Capacity: $900M
Employees: 90+
Churches Build: 30
Fire & EMS Stations Built (last 10 years): 22
Largest Project: Wellen Park High School (320,000 sq. ft.)
Country Clubhouses and Amenity Centers: 16 Local Libraries Built: 5 (including Lakewood Ranch, North Port, and Manatee)
Alfred R. Goldstein Library at Ringling College of Art and Design
Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian Art at The Ringling
Robinson Preserve
