The New Heart of Ringling College
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The Basch Visual Arts Center at Ringling College of Art and Design is a dynamic, 38,500-square-foot facility that serves as a transformative space for artistic creation and education. Celebrated as “the new heart of Ringling College,” the center redefines the campus with its bold architectural presence and thoughtfully designed spaces that support both traditional and contemporary art disciplines. From its inception, the project set an ambitious goal: to create an exceptional facility that would reflect the college’s prestigious standing as a premier art institution. Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors embraced this challenge, conducting extensive collaboration with faculty and rigorous research into the technical requirements of glassblowing, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, and more.
The design is inspired by the artistic processes it houses. Angular geometries, zinc cladding, and red metallic accents evoke the intaglio printmaking technique, while the building’s sculptural “shard” pierces the structure, symbolizing the energy and artistry of glassblowing. The center’s functional layout is equally innovative. A one-story volume houses ceramic and glass studios that open onto a campus green, while the three-story volume contains fine art studios and classrooms. The cantilevered design enhances visibility of the studios from the street while creating a sheltered civic space along the busy boulevard. Additionally, a 3,000-square-foot gallery near the street invites the broader community to engage with art, highlighting the facility’s role as a bridge between the college and Sarasota’s cultural fabric.
Achieving LEED Silver certification, the Basch Visual Arts Center reflects Ringling College’s commitment to sustainability and the environment. With its striking aesthetics, cutting-edge technical planning, and seamless integration of functionality and durability, the center stands as a piece of art in its own right. It exemplifies Sweet Sparkman’s ability to design transformative spaces that inspire creativity while meeting the highest standards of environmental and technical excellence.
client/owner
Ringling College
Project information
location
Sarasota, FL
size
38,500 SF
Status
Completed in 2017
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.
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.
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