Moderns That Matter
100 places that give Sarasota its character and distinct sense of place organized chronologically across 10 use categories.
20 Palm Avenue Stores - 1954
20 Palm Avenue Stores - 1954. Click to expand.
“The one-story retail building along Palm Avenue was designed by architects Ralph and William Zimmerman. Angled concrete buttresses support the build- ing’s roof that projects over the sidewalk and shades the glass facades of the storefronts. This building is an example of the Sarasota School of Architecture and contributes to the diverse character of the city’s downtown.” Adapted from nomination by Linda Haller Sloan
28 Sarasota Physicians Surgical Center - 1959
28 Sarasota Physicians Surgical Center - 1959. Click to expand.
“It’s beautiful it’s unique it’s classic modernism…the design looks like a bird in flight.” Adapted from nomination by Jayne Young
29A Hob Nob Restaurant - 1957
29A Hob Nob Restaurant - 1957. Click to expand.
“Sarasota’s oldest outside dining experience. The moment you arrive, you will enjoy the casual atmosphere and a special ambiance that adds fun and relaxation.” www.hobnobdrivein.com
29B Golden Host Resort and Bahi Hut - 1959
29B Golden Host Resort and Bahi Hut - 1959. Click to expand.
“There used to be a tiki bar in almost every Florida city…A lot of things have changed in Sarasota, but this is one of the few thing that hasn’t. It’s like walking into a time capsule.” Jim Beg, former owner of Bahi Hut, interviewed by Nick Friedman for www.yourobserver.com, August 23, 2017
44A RX Weight Loss Sarasota - 1962
44A RX Weight Loss Sarasota - 1962. Click to expand.
“I…enjoy its [the building’s] celebration of Modern Architecture, the use of long horizontal elements, and the contrast of the vertical details, such as the prominent clock.” Nomination by David Darrin
44B Mel-O-Dee Restaurant - 1964
44B Mel-O-Dee Restaurant - 1964. Click to expand.
“The Mel-O-Dee is a perfect example of the family restaurants of the 50’s & 60’s when people traveled by car, being attached to the Golden Host it was always filled with locals & tourists.” Nomination by Debra Flynt-Garrett
44C Office Building - 1968
44C Office Building - 1968. Click to expand.
This office building was originally designed as an art museum for artist Ben Stahl. The core of the museum’s collection was “The Way of the Cross,” Stahl’s series of six-foot by nine-foot paintings depicting Good Friday events. Initially, the museum opened in November 1966 in the former Galloway Furniture Showroom building, designed by Victor Lundy. The second opening of the Sarasota Museum of the Cross was held in April 1968. www.sarasotahistoryalive.com
56 South State Bank - 1974
56 South State Bank - 1974. Click to expand.
“The neighbors are delighted that the Jack West structure is being preserved.” Brian Fitz-Harris, for John Hielscer, www.heraldtribune, April 29, 2009
63 One Sarasota Tower - 1988
63 One Sarasota Tower - 1988. Click to expand.
“Is a beacon of classic modern elegance, welcoming visitors and locals as they travel Tamiami Trail around Bayfront Drive or to and from Lido Key.” Nominated by Barbara Burkey
68 Truist Bank Building - 1990
68 Truist Bank Building - 1990. Click to expand.
“I’ve noticed that the various buildings housing SunTrust Banks and its related interests are all quite interesting and each one is unique. This Postmodern (?) building has a “skin” of sheet metal anywhere that there isn’t glass.” Aaron Board, www.architectureinsarasota.blogspot.com
76 Sterling Park Business Center - 2008
76 Sterling Park Business Center - 2008. Click to expand.
“The concrete building’s posts and roof panes form rectangles that protrude to provide shaded spaces. Circular openings emphasize exterior staircases at each end of the building. Skirball said he was a bit stumped on where to go with the design, turned to his architecture books for inspiration, and admitted that Paul Rudolph’s Milam Residence, designed in 1959 inspired his work.” Harold Bubil, www.heraldtribune.com, March 22, 2009
78 Clark Road Mercedes Showroom - 2011
78 Clark Road Mercedes Showroom - 2011. Click to expand.
The Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota show- room is LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) certified by the U.S. Green Building Council and was designed according to the principles of Mercedes Benz’s Autohaus Image program with the goal of minimizing negative impacts on people and the environment. In 2005, Sarasota County made a local commitment to build high-performing, sustainable buildings. Today, the area boasts many “green” buildings.
95 Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Venice - 2021
95 Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Venice - 2021. Click to expand.
“The hospital was designed to create a welcoming and comfortable experience for patients, visitors, and staff. With extensive use of high-performance glass on the building’s exterior, interior spaces are filled with natural light and feature strong indoor-outdoor connections, views to the landscaped campus, local artwork, and natural materials – resulting in a unique atmosphere that inspires healing and hope for all. Flad Architects designed and master planned the facility to accommodate significant expansion to meet rapidly growing community needs.” Nomination by Nolan Christensen
Other Commercial Places