Sarasota-Manatee projects made a strong showing in the AIA Florida 2026 Design Awards, with winning work stretching from Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch to Sarasota and Englewood. 

The awards, given by the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), recognize architecture across categories including new work, renovations and additions, interiors, historic preservation and restoration, masonry and unbuilt projects. This year’s local and regional winners include schools, civic buildings, restaurants, historic restorations, private residences and future-facing concepts still on the drawing board. The awards will be presented July 18 during AIA Florida’s annual convention at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee.

Many of the names are familiar: Hall Darling Design Studio, Sweet Sparkman Architects, Halflants + Pichette, Schimberg Group and WJArchitects have all appeared in previous AIA Florida award lineups, reinforcing Sarasota’s place as one of the state’s most closely watched small design markets.

Here’s a look at the local and regional winners.

Hall Darling Design Studio

• Honor Award of Excellence for New Work for Dr. Janet S. Pullen S.T.E.A.M. Center in Bradenton
• Citation Award in Masonry for Dr. Janet S. Pullen S.T.E.A.M. Center in Bradenton

Among the area’s highest honors: Hall Darling Design Studio won an Honor Award of Excellence for New Work for the Dr. Janet S. Pullen S.T.E.A.M. Center in Bradenton. The same project also received a Citation Award in Masonry.

The Dr. Janet S. Pullen S.T.E.A.M. Center gives Bradenton one of the region’s strongest education-design showings this year. The project reads as a purpose-built academic environment shaped around science, technology, engineering, arts and math, with a civic presence that elevates the school campus beyond a standard classroom building.

This project turned what had been an empty sanctuary shell into a 10,000-square-foot worship space with seating for 600. Large glass panels frame an infinity pond and palms, while an overhead microlight gallery by Hall Darling Design Studio uses polycarbonate panels and dichroic film as a Florida-friendly alternative to stained glass. 

Damien Blumetti Architect 

• Merit Award of Excellence for New Work for Cocoanut Bayou House in Sarasota

• Honor Award for Interiors for Cocoanut Bayou House in Sarasota

Gresham Smith and MLM-Martin

• Citation Award in Renovations and Additions for Sarasota BRADENTON International Airport Terminal Expansion

The Sarasota International Airport Terminal expansion responds to one of the region’s most visible growth stories: the rapid rise of SRQ. The project adds capacity and clarity to the passenger experience, with a five-gate expansion, a dedicated security checkpoint and a large connector hall designed to improve flow while positioning the terminal for future growth.

Hall Darling Design Studio

• Citation Award in Renovations and Additions for Cornerstone Sanctuary in Lakewood Ranch

This project turned what had been an empty sanctuary shell into a 10,000-square-foot worship space with seating for 600. Large glass panels frame an infinity pond and palms, while an overhead microlight gallery by Hall Darling Design Studio uses polycarbonate panels and dichroic film as a Florida-friendly alternative to stained glass. 

TWO Architects

• Merit Award for Interiors for Kurō Sushi in Lakewood Ranch

Kurō Sushi transforms two adjoining commercial units on Lakewood Ranch Main Street into a cohesive restaurant interior. The name “Kurō,” meaning “black” in Japanese, guided the design direction, with dark natural materials offset by softer wood tones to create an intimate setting for sushi, small plates and the theater of the bar.

Sweet Sparkman Architects

• Honor Award in Historic Preservation and Restoration for Chidsey Library Rehabilitation in Sarasota

The Chidsey Library Rehabilitation turns Sarasota’s first public library into office space for the Bay Park Conservancy while preserving much of the building’s historic character. Sweet Sparkman’s work retained elements such as terrazzo flooring, glass block, exposed brick and portions of the original stacks, opening the former library for a new civic chapter along Sarasota Bay.

Sweet Sparkman Architects

• Merit Award in Historic Preservation and Restoration for Bay Haven School of Basics Plus Renovation in Sarasota

Bay Haven School of Basics Plus Renovation brings a 1920s Mediterranean Revival elementary school up to modern standards while keeping the campus in use. Sweet Sparkman phased the construction, replaced major building systems and preserved the school’s exterior character, including a color palette drawn from the historic terra cotta entry.

Hall Darling Design Studio

• Merit Award in Historic Preservation and Restoration for Sarasota County Terrace Building Restoration in Sarasota

The Sarasota County Terrace Building Restoration gives new attention to one of downtown Sarasota’s most storied public buildings. Built in 1925 on the former Gillespie Golf Course, the building opened as the Ringling Terrace and later became the Sarasota Terrace Hotel, at one point housing the spring training offices of the Chicago White Sox. Sarasota County purchased it in 1972, and it now serves as the county administration center. The AIA recognition places the project in the preservation category, where the challenge is keeping that layered civic history visible while allowing the building to keep functioning for modern county use.

Schimberg Group

• Citation Award in Masonry for Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood

Suncoast Humane Society’s new Englewood facility uses masonry as both structure and storytelling. Schimberg Group describes the buildings as exposed architectural masonry, with ground-face and split-face units used in a pattern that nods to the natural markings of dogs and cats—a subtle design move tied directly to the shelter’s mission.

PS Design Workshop

• Citation Award for Unbuilt Projects for Old Oak Residence in Sarasota

Old Oak Residence, recognized in the Unbuilt category, places a Sarasota home within the language of landscape and shade. The design is tied to its mature oak setting, with the residence built around long views, deep overhangs and a relationship between interior space, privacy and the surrounding Old Florida canopy.

Halflants + Pichette

• Citation Award for Unbuilt Projects for Whitaker Lofts in Sarasota

Whitaker Lofts proposes a modern mixed-use landmark for Sarasota’s North Trail, at the gateway between Ringling College of Art and Design and downtown. The project combines residential and commercial space, using a curved form, deep balconies and ground-floor activation to respond to a prominent and unusually shaped site.

WJArchitects

• Citation Award for Unbuilt Projects for Nathan Benderson Park Indoor Sports Facility and Boathouse in Sarasota

The Nathan Benderson Park Indoor Sports Facility and Boathouse imagines the next major evolution of one of Sarasota’s signature sports venues. Designed to support athletes, competitions and year-round recreation, the project pairs a boathouse function with indoor court and event space, strengthening the park’s role as both a local amenity and a regional sports destination.

To check out last year's winners, click here.