A Modern Facility with Historic Roots
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Sarasota County Fire Station No. 8 replaced a temporary facility with a modern campus designed to meet the functional needs of first responders while honoring the community’s history. The main station includes four garage bays for fire apparatus and rescue vehicles, gear storage, and living quarters accommodating 14 personnel. Thoughtfully designed communal spaces include a kitchen, dining area, lounge, and exercise room to provide comfort during long shifts. The adjacent Special Operations Building supports hazardous rescues and emergencies with specialized vehicle storage and an air-conditioned workspace for equipment servicing.
The design emphasizes durability and resilience, with the entire facility built to withstand Category 4 hurricanes. A 24-foot aluminum training tower provides opportunities for stairwell rescue and rappelling drills, enhancing firefighter preparedness. Low-maintenance materials and sustainable design principles, such as green building elements, ensure long-term efficiency and operational functionality.
Reflecting the site’s history as part of Sarasota’s celery fields, the design incorporates textured limestone cladding, paying homage to the area’s agricultural roots while establishing a contemporary aesthetic. Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors balanced practicality and symbolism, creating a facility that serves as a vital community resource while offering first responders a resilient and welcoming space to support their critical work.
Sarasota County
Project information
Sarasota, FL
20,760 SF
Completed in 2020
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.
Cole Mears, AIA
Cole is a Florida native who discovered architecture unexpectedly during his undergraduate studies—and instantly knew it was the right path. He earned his Master of Architecture from the University of South Florida, where he developed a deep interest in semiotics and human-centered design. With a background in team sports and a strong collaborative mindset, Cole found a natural fit at Sweet Sparkman, where he contributes to a wide range of public projects with a focus on community impact and experiential design.
Cole brings a human-first approach to architecture, drawing influence from thinkers and practitioners such as Jan Gehl, Peter Zumthor, and Juhani Pallasmaa. He sees architecture as a communicative art—one that operates through both conscious and unconscious interpretation—and is passionate about creating spaces that are enriching, expressive, and grounded in their cultural and physical context. Now with over six years at the firm, Cole continues to enjoy the collaborative design process and often plays a mentoring role, helping to guide and support younger team members.
Outside the studio, Cole channels his creativity through cooking, visual arts, and a lifelong appreciation for music, cinema, and graphic design. He views all creative disciplines as connected by a shared energy and curiosity—and sees architecture as one of many expressions of that artistic impulse.
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.
Designed in Collaboration With Hello June Creative.
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