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.
Selby Botanical Gardens
Sarasota, FL
Completed in 2024
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, a Bradenton native, received his Master's of Architecture degree from the University of South Florida. He started his architecture career at Wilder Architecture before moving to Austin, Texas where he worked on a variety of commercial and residential projects. In 2020, Marcus moved back to town with his wife and son to be closer to family. He polished his design and fabrication skills at Modulo Design Studio in Tampa before joining our team. Creating, construction, and problem-solving are the factors that have drawn him to the profession of architecture. Marcus enjoys traveling and is an avid mountain biker, frequenting Alafia State Park for the best local bike trails.
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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