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Located in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, the Lovers Key Welcome & Discovery Center serves as a beacon for environmental education and coastal preservation. Designed by Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors, the Center was conceived to celebrate and protect the natural beauty of Lovers Key State Park while educating visitors about its diverse ecosystems. Elevated to mitigate coastal flooding, the building’s design draws inspiration from its surroundings, with columns resembling mangrove root systems that integrate seamlessly into the park’s landscape. A winding access ramp provides visitors with panoramic views of the park, while a central courtyard invites exploration and reflection.
The Welcome Center includes a 2,000-square-foot environmental exhibit hall, a 1,000-square-foot multi-purpose room, and a large covered deck that doubles as an outdoor classroom. Resilience and sustainability are central to its design, with hurricane-resistant glass walls, solar-ready roofing, and natural cypress cladding that enhances the structure’s organic aesthetic. Dedicated to inspiring appreciation for Florida’s coastal environments, the Lovers Key Welcome & Discovery Center is both a destination and a hub for environmental stewardship, fulfilling a long-held vision of the Friends of Lovers Key and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Lover's Key State Park
Project information
Fort Myers Beach, FL
6,520 SF
Completed in 2021
client/owner
location
size
Status
"This building is a love story, and it’s meant to teach people to love our natural environment."
— Deb voorhees, capital campaign executive director for the Friends of Lovers Key
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
Jerry Sparkman, a founding principal of Sweet Sparkman Architecture, 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.
Jerry Sparkman, AIA, NCARB
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.
Designed in Collaboration With Hello June Creative.
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