restoring a neighborhood gem
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Brentwood Elementary School underwent a transformative redesign to modernize its 60-year-old campus and create a welcoming, functional space for nearly 700 students and the surrounding community. A new cafeteria replaced the outdated and over-utilized facility, providing a bold, modern centerpiece for the school and serving as a vibrant hub for student and community events. Additional improvements included HVAC system upgrades, renovations to the media center and classrooms, and significant site enhancements, such as new playgrounds, service drives, landscaping, and a cohesive “front door” to the campus. Every detail of the redesign balanced functionality, cost-efficiency, and aesthetics, ensuring maximum impact within a limited budget.
The revitalized campus now stands as a source of pride for families and staff, with its bold design and updated facilities fostering a renewed sense of community and educational excellence. Enrollment has increased, and the school has earned an “A” rating from the state, reflecting its transformation into a standout in the district. By addressing both infrastructure and aesthetic needs, the redesign has created a vibrant, efficient space that meets the evolving needs of students and the surrounding neighborhood.
client/owner
School Board of Sarasota County
Project information
location
Sarasota, FL
size
100,000 SF
Status
Completed in 2020
"Families are proud when they walk in the new cafeteria. They feel it is not only new, but bold, modern, a standout in the district. It makes them proud to call it theirs."
— john weida, principal
brentwood elementary school
FOUNDER
Todd Sweet, AIA, LEED AP
The founder of Sweet Sparkman, Todd was born and raised in the Northeast, where he received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Roger Williams University. Todd spent his internship at Arquitectonica in Miami, Florida, where he worked on projects throughout Europe, South America, and the United States. In 2002, Todd started the firm TOTeMS Architecture (the original firm name). In 2004, he partnered with Jerry Sparkman to form Sweet Sparkman Architects. The firm has built a national reputation for design excellence and has been asked to participate in La Venice Biennale, a bi-annual architecture exhibit in Venice, Italy. In his 20 years of practice, Todd has enjoyed the study of simple building volumes and the exploitation of materials in an unconventional fashion. Municipal planning and architecture are Todd's award-winning specialty.
John Bryant, AIA, LEED AP
After receiving a degree in music at Grinnell College, John received his Master of Architecture from the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation in 2007. At the University of Maryland, he received the Dean's Thesis Award and the 2007 David M. Schwarz Traveling Fellowship, which allowed for thesis research in Japan.
No one benefited more than Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors when John and his family decided to move to Sarasota. His highly effective design and project management skills were instrumental in projects such as the Ringling College of Art + Design's Basch Visual Arts Center, Fruitville Elementary, and the New College Master Plan. His work with the Siesta Key Beach Pavilion has earned two awards: 2015 Florida Association of AIA: Merit Award for an Object for the Siesta Key Beach Pavilion's picnic shelter and a Finalist for the SRQ Magazine: Building of the Year. His work on Fruitville Elementary has earned the firm the coveted national 2017 Brick in Architecture Award K-12 given by the Brick Industry Association. John's prolific body of work during this period compelled the Florida / Caribbean AIA jury to award Sweet Sparkman the 2018 Firm of the Year.
FOUNDER
Jerry Sparkman, AIA, NCARB
Jerry Sparkman, a founding principal of Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors, has been crafting resilient, thoughtful designs since the firm's inception in 2002. His work reflects a deep understanding of the coastal environment, emphasizing the integration of local culture, history, and long-term community growth. Jerry’s design philosophy—“respect the land and the people, and the rest will follow”—is exemplified in projects like The Bay Park in Sarasota, where he has merged innovative design with environmental stewardship to create vibrant public spaces. His portfolio spans high-end residential projects, public parks, higher education facilities, and community spaces, all shaped by active listening and a meticulous approach to financial, physical, social, and environmental factors. With a belief that nature provides unlimited inspiration, Jerry continues to create spaces that harmonize with their surroundings while meeting the needs of diverse communities.
Hannah Boehmer, AIA
Hannah, originally from Cocoa Beach, graduated in May 2014 with a Master of Architecture from the University of South Florida and has been a licensed architect since 2019. She has worked on projects in both the residential and public spectrum of the office and has a fondness for working with existing structures, bringing clarity and renewed purpose to otherwise unconsidered spaces.
In 2019, her graduate thesis exploring how contemporary design can integrate with Florida vernacular won an AIA Florida Theoretical and Research Design Merit Award. In 2021, Hannah secured the first runner-up finish in the Center for Architecture's Tiny House Competition. In addition to obsessively observing the play of shadow and light in daily spaces, she is also a member of the Junior League of Sarasota, an avid reader, and an espresso enthusiast.
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