Resilience and Safety on the Gulf Coast
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Located on a barrier island between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Longboat Key Fire Station #92 is a resilient, state-of-the-art facility designed to serve both the community and its first responders. Inspired by the Sarasota School of Architecture, the station features clean lines and smooth surfaces while integrating essential modern amenities, including a kitchen, gym, bedrooms, and a report writing room.
Built to withstand hurricane-force winds up to 166 mph and elevated to meet floodplain requirements, the station ensures operational continuity during extreme weather events. Its robust design makes it one of the island’s most resilient structures, with features like a dedicated weather tracking system for real-time storm updates.
In addition to public safety, the station prioritizes health. A walk-in medical clinic near the station’s entrance provides residents with accessible care, while specialized facilities inside the station, such as ventilated apparatus bays, a two-stage decontamination area, and gear extractors, protect firefighters from hazardous exposure. This holistic approach underscores a commitment to community well-being and first responder safety.
Town of Longboat Key
Project information
Longboat Key, FL
9,594 SF
Completed in 2021
client/owner
location
size
Status
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.
Education: Roger Williams University, B.Arch, 1991 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1985
Registrations: Registered Architect FL AR-0015832U.S. Green Building Council LEED Professional Accreditation, 2007 American Institute of Architects Member, Gulf Coast Chapter Past President 2002 Institute of Architects Member, Gulf Coast Chapter Past President 2005
Elizabeth Lee, Associate AIA
Elizabeth received her Master of Architecture from Florida International University in Miami. After working for two years at a small firm, she was ready to leave the madness of Miami. She moved back to the Sarasota / Bradenton area, where she grew up. Elizabeth has comprehensive experience in design and construction documents and client consultations. She brings this experience to Sweet Sparkman’s large-scale commercial projects, incorporating her environment design experience into every project. With her strong problem-solving skills and team player ability, she is a seamless fit at Sweet Sparkman.
When she isn’t working, Elizabeth enjoys hiking and martial arts. She has achieved a 3rd Dan Black Belt Ming Wu and a 1st Dan Black Belt Hwa Rang Do.
Shirley Quinlan, NCIDQ
Originally from the Netherlands, Shirley Quinlan joined Sweet Sparkman Architects from New York City, where she worked on both large- and small-scale projects from 2011-2017. In New York City, her experience centered on the workplace and working with commercial building owners and developers to enhance the value of their properties. Shirley received her BFA in Interior Design from the famed New York Fashion Institute of Technology. As Sweet Sparkman Architects' Commercial Interior Designer, Shirley collaborates with all of the project managers and architects at the firm. A spirited, receptive, and innovative designer with extensive experience, she provides well-rounded interiors to all projects, including fire stations, K-12 schools, university campuses, and cultural projects.
Shirley spends her free time with her beautiful daughters and husband. She loves drawing and crafting with her girls. Besides design, her interests are traveling, outdoor activities like rafting, climbing, and zip-lining, or merely relaxing with a good book.
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