With its expansion into waterfront and golf course developments from Hillsborough County south to Charlotte County, John Cannon Homes, a custom homebuilder with $132 million in annual sales, is relocating its offices from south Sarasota to Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park.

The 58,000-square-foot headquarters, newly built by Cannon, will accommodate the company's growing staff and lure customers to its 4,000-square-foot design center, located on the first floor. The second and third floors are reserved for Cannon's 93 employees in management, construction, customer service, information technology, sales and marketing, and administrative teams.

And, in a smart move, the project includes 19,450 square feet of income-generating office space geared toward companies with whom Cannon already does business. Offices range in size from 1,000 to 7,000 square feet.

Company president John Cannon says the original plan was simply to pull his growing staff into one location. "We're busting at the seams in about five different buildings in south Sarasota," he says, "and it's hard to work together when you always have to walk across the parking lot to talk to someone."

While scouting locations for the new building, Cannon decided he wanted more control over the end product. "Two adjacent lots were for sale that were completely surrounded by lakes and wetlands," he explains. "We needed only one for our new headquarters, but we hated the thought of another building going up next door with a totally different look. So we bought both lots and built one large building."

Set on a four-acre parcel backing to lake views, the three-story building looks like a super-sized version of a John Cannon home. Mediterranean roof tiles and a terra cotta stucco exterior are accented by tall white columns, tiled terraces and an open-air verandah overlooking a lake. Interior details include those found in model homes, such as crown molding, granite countertops, iron railings and stone floor.

Scheduled for completion this spring, the Cannon Building offers accessibility to I-75 and plenty of parking.

ALL TOGETHER NOW:

Builders with headquarters in Lakewood Ranch

Arthur Rutenberg, Bruce Williams Homes, Centex, Gibraltar, Homes by Towne, John Cannon Homes, Landmark Development, Lee Wetherington, Neal Communities, Pruett Builders