711 South Osprey . Sarasota, Florida.

Originally a car dealership in the 1950’s, the site consisted of a paved landscape, unfriendly to pedestrians and harsh to the eye.  The existing building possessed a sound and appealing structure, interesting spatial qualities in the service bay and display area, and good natural light.  The goal was to remodel the building into something that would be desirable as office and rental space suitable for its downtown location. 

The design introduced a level of refinement to the structure as well as adding to the vitality of the community visually and economically. The interior was stripped of all non-structural elements to expose the roof structure and eliminate visual clutter.  The exterior received a new aluminum glazing system, while in-filling some of the existing openings to bring calm to the chaotic façades.  Large window areas were recessed into the building to alleviate the existing flatness. 

The roof monitors, clad in metal, replaced roof structure in areas with inadequate headroom and allow those areas to become desirable lease space.

Photographer: Seibert Architects