Community Town Halls to Unveil Initial Design Concepts forSarasota Performing Arts Center
Meet the Minds Behind the Designs: ‘Ask Our Architects’ with Renzo Piano Building Workshop and Sweet Sparkman Architects
Sarasota, Florida – August 28, 2024 – The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation is pleased to invite the community to attend one of two town halls on Wednesday, September 18, when exciting updates for the vision of the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center will be revealed. The Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW) design team will share their initial design concepts, offering a glimpse of what’s to come. During the event, attendees will get a first look at the latest ideas for the activities and spaces in this new state-of-the-art center.
Following the presentation, the architects from RPBW and Sarasota-based Sweet Sparkman, the project’s Architect of Record, along with designers from Arup Group, a leading theatre and venue design and advisory practice, will break into smaller groups, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the architects, ask questions, and share their thoughts.
“These gatherings will not only inform the community, but also spark meaningful conversations and inspire everyone to dream with us about the future of the arts in Sarasota,” said Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, CEO of Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation. “Through collaboration and creativity, we aim to build a vibrant performing arts center that reflects the diverse spirit of our community.”
Session 1
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Grand Foyer
777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Session 2
Robert L. Taylor Community Complex
1845 John Rivers (34th) St., Sarasota
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 pm
* Childcare will be provided by Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation teaching artists who will explore arts and architecture. Children will receive a FREE book!
Both events will offer ASL interpretation.
About The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation
The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation’s mission is to create and sustain a vibrant performing arts center, advance education, and enrich communities by inspiring minds through the power of the arts. The Foundation has partnered with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall since 1987 to support arts education throughout our region, serving more than 35,000 students and their families annually with enriching arts-based education opportunities and professional development for more than 400 teachers across five counties.
The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation is leading the vision to build a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center as a public-private partnership with the city and in collaboration with the Bay Park Conservancy and Van Wezel Hall. For more information about the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, please visit: www.PerformingArtsFoundation.org.
About Renzo Piano Building Workshop
The Renzo Piano Building Workshop RPBW was established by Renzo Piano in 1981 with offices in Genoa, Italy, and Paris, France. RPBW is led by 12 partners, including Pritzker Prize Laureate, and architect Renzo Piano. The practice permanently employs about 100 architects and 30 support staff including 3D visualization artists, BIM managers, model makers, archivists, and administrative and secretarial staff. The team has extensive experience working in multi-disciplinary teams on building projects in France, Italy, and abroad. As architects, RPBW is involved in projects from start to finish and typically provide full architectural design and consultancy services through the construction phase. RPBW’s design skills and capacity extend beyond architectural services to include interior design, master planning, landscape design, and exhibition design services. RPBW has successfully undertaken and completed over 140 projects worldwide. www.rpbw.com
About Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors
Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors is a multi-disciplinary architecture and interiors firm specializing in community-oriented projects. The firm believes design excellence is achieved by carefully analyzing every parameter affecting the development of the project. This scrutiny includes financial, physical, social, and environmental factors. The firm is interested in projects, not measured by size, but by their relevance to the owner, community, and environment. Established in 2002, Principals, Todd Sweet, AIA, LEED AP; Jerry Sparkman, AIA, NCARB; John Bryant, AIA, LEED AP; and Karl Bernhard, AIA, NCARB bring a combined 100 years of experience in architecture and planning, including residential, civic, and community projects. Sweet Sparkman has 42 full-time employees and has two offices in Sarasota, FL, and St. Petersburg, FL. For more information, visit www.sweetsparkman.com.
About Arup Group
Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, consultants and experts working across 140 countries. Founded to be both humane and excellent, Arup collaborates with its clients and partners using imagination, technology and rigour to shape a better world.
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