A Botanical
Dining Experience
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The Green Orchid Restaurant, located within the Welcome Center at Selby Gardens, offers a unique dining experience that complements the Gardens’ mission of sustainability and conservation. Designed with energy-efficient systems and eco-friendly materials, the restaurant aligns with the campus’s net-positive energy goals.
Overlooking the stunning bayfront and gardens, the Green Orchid serves fresh, locally sourced meals in a serene setting. This thoughtfully designed space enhances the visitor experience by blending environmental responsibility with culinary excellence, making it an integral part of the Selby Gardens transformation.
client/owner
Selby Botanical Gardens
Project information
location
Sarasota, FL
Status
Completed in 2024
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.
Marcus Peduzzi, AIA
Marcus is a Bradenton native who earned his Master of Architecture from the University of South Florida. After beginning his career at Wilder Architecture, he moved to Austin, Texas, where he worked on a range of commercial and residential projects. In 2020, he returned to Florida with his wife and son to be closer to family before joining Sweet Sparkman.
Marcus has a clear eye for honest materials and straightforward construction methods. He values simplicity, precision, and the satisfaction that comes from making things—whether they’re buildings or something else entirely. His approach is grounded in practicality, shaped more by a respect for process than by any specific design dogma.
Outside the office, Marcus enjoys mountain biking and frequently rides the trails at Alafia State Park.
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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