Sweet Sparkman received three awards in the 2026 AIA Florida Design Awards: an Honor Award and a Merit Award in Historic Preservation and Restoration, and a Citation Award in Sustainability.

This year’s program recognized projects across eleven categories and was reviewed by a jury convened in Salvador, Brazil. Recipients will be recognized at the AIA Florida Design and Honor Awards presentation on Saturday, July 18, held during the AIA Florida Annual Convention and Trade Show at the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee.

Honor Award, Historic Preservation and Restoration: Chidsey Library Rehabilitation

The Chidsey Library Rehabilitation adapts Sarasota’s first public library, built in 1941, into office space for the Bay Park Conservancy, which manages the adjacent Bay Park. The building sits along the Tamiami Trail corridor near Sarasota Bay.

Before the renovation, deferred maintenance and water intrusion had damaged the structure, including spalling across the original concrete floor system. The project stabilized the building and introduced new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and data systems. Original materials were retained where possible, including the terrazzo flooring, glass block, and exposed brick. Metal shelf faces from the historic stacks were reused as a display element in the lobby. Removing a former mezzanine opened a double-height space at the center of the plan.

Merit Award, Historic Preservation and Restoration: Bay Haven School of Basics Plus Renovation

The Bay Haven School of Basics Plus Renovation updates a 1920s Mediterranean Revival elementary campus. Construction was phased so the school could stay in use, with temporary classrooms supporting instruction while each wing was renovated. All major building systems were replaced, and the campus was brought up to current codes and district standards.

Interior work was carried down to the historic masonry shell. New impact-resistant windows and doors reinforced the envelope while keeping the exterior character intact. Wood from the original structural joists was milled and reused as lobby cladding and casework. A color palette drawn from the 1920s terra cotta entry organizes wayfinding across the classroom wings.

Citation Award, Sustainability: St. Petersburg Sanitation Department Building

The St. Petersburg Sanitation Department Building replaces an aging complex with a new headquarters for the municipal sanitation department. The two-story building consolidates administrative offices, locker rooms, a fitness room, and crew support areas on a compact industrial site. Brick, metal panels, and precast concrete relate the building to its surroundings.

The project is tracking LEED Gold and is designed for net-zero energy, with rooftop photovoltaics sized to meet the building’s annual energy use. A full-building energy model guided the early design phases. Bioswales and native landscaping manage stormwater on site, and shaded parking reduces heat gain at grade. Daylight reaches into the work areas, and a shaded rooftop terrace provides outdoor space for staff.

The awards will be presented on July 18 in Kissimmee. Read more about these projects on our projects page.