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Largo Fire Station #43 was one of the most unique public construction projects ever seen. It is believed to be the only vertical construction project in Florida to utilize a joint partnership of four different public agencies. It took just under one calendar year to build and the service area covers part of Pinellas County, the Town of Belleair, the City of Belleair Bluffs and the City of Largo.
This facility is a brand-new, state-of-the-art structure located in Belleair Bluffs, Florida with three drive through bays. The station is rated for a category 5 hurricane and includes over 4,000 SF of bay space and just under 4,000 SF of living quarters space. It is managed and built by the City of Largo within and under direction of the City of Belleair Bluffs.
The ribbon cutting and dedication of the new Fire Station took place on October 12, 2017, with Largo Fire Rescue officially moving into the station on November 6, 2017, at which point the station began operating and fielding calls.
City of Largo
Project information
Belleair Bluffs, FL
8,250 SF
Completed in 2017
client/owner
location
size
Status
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.
Todd Sweet, AIA, LEED AP
Karl Bernhard, AIA
Karl Bernhard grew up in New Orleans, where the city's rich architectural history and vulnerable, storm-prone environment shaped his early passion for resilient design. Inspired by the interplay between urban life and the surrounding swamplands, Karl developed a fascination with how the built environment can respond to and reflect nature. This connection drove him to pursue architecture from a young age, blending creativity with an understanding of place, emotion, and function.
Now based in Sarasota for over a decade, Karl continues to focus on designs that balance resilience, sustainability, and human-centered experience. He’s a mentor, collaborator, and active member of the AIA, committed to shaping the next generation of architects. Outside the studio, Karl finds inspiration in martial arts, inline skating, and exploring nature with his family—pursuits that echo his ongoing search for harmony between the human and natural worlds.
Hannah Boehmer, AIA
As Design Director, Hannah brings a thoughtful, site-responsive approach to architecture that prioritizes clarity, sustainability, and a deep respect for existing structures. Originally from Cocoa Beach, Hannah earned her Master of Architecture from the University of South Florida in 2014. Her early exposure to construction—watching her parents transform their 1950s block home—sparked a lasting fascination with how buildings evolve over time. Today, that interest shapes her passion for reimagining and adapting space rather than replacing it.
Her design work emphasizes climate-responsive strategies tailored to Florida’s coastal environment and is guided by a belief that architecture should balance beauty with function. Hannah’s academic and professional accolades include a 2019 AIA Florida Theoretical and Research Design Merit Award for her graduate thesis on Florida vernacular architecture, and a second-place finish in the 2021 Architecture Sarasota Tiny House Competition.
Outside the studio, Hannah is an avid reader, writer, and member of the Junior League of Sarasota—a training organization dedicated to volunteerism and women’s professional development. These creative and civic pursuits offer her a valuable perspective on design’s role within broader communities.
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