Sustainable Design Blog

August 25th, 2013 - The Apostolic Church of Estero broke ground Sunday at their new construction site just south of Ft Myers Florida. Both Carlson Studio Architecture and CORE Construction were represented at the ceremony.

The Apostolic Church project consists of a 300 person Sanctuary, a 2,800 sf Fellowship Hall and kitchen, four Sunday School classrooms, and a nursery. An oversized entry foyer was designed to serve as a secondary sanctuary, while a large exterior covered area has been provided for outside dinning off the Fellowship Hall.

Carlson Studio Architecture and Plunkett Raysich Architects are pleased announce the latest project, Design Guidelines Development for the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field!

The CSA/PRA team will develop written and illustrated Design Guidelines suitable to be used as a guide for future interior remodeling and renovations inside Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Our scope will include developing several grade levels of finishes, depending on the level of fan experience desired, into the illustrated manual. As part of the project, key team members will investigate the fan experience at both the Ray’s home stadium and other ballparks around the country. All recommendations will be filtered through sustainable design criteria, such as low environmental impact, energy conservation, water conservation, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Both CSA’s & PRA’s expertise in sustainable design will help the Ray’s deliver a wonderful & healthy fan experience in the future.

Carlson Studio Architecture of Sarasota and Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP of Milwaukee WI and Sarasota, have formed a strategic partnership, which builds upon the unique industry expertise found in each firm: healthcare, primary and secondary education, higher education, long-term care, religious architecture, and multi-family housing. The alliance harnesses the talents of both firms, allowing each to expand and enhance their service to clients and prospects. The combined resources of the two organizations operate from CSA’s studio in downtown Sarasota, providing expanded capacity to deliver larger and more complex projects throughout Florida and beyond.

Carlson Studio Architecture of Sarasota and Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP of Milwaukee and Madison, WI, today announced the formation of a strategic partnership, which will build upon the unique industry expertise found in each firm: healthcare, education, long-term care, religious architecture, and multi-family housing.

The firms’ service offerings are complementary and they have both developed solid reputations as leaders in sustainable design. The alliance harnesses the talents of both firms, allowing each to expand and enhance their service to clients and prospects.  The combined resources of the two organizations will operate from CSA’s studio in downtown Sarasota, providing expanded capacity in order to deliver larger and more complex projects throughout Florida.

“This new partnership provides both firms the ability to grow geographically as well as support our clients’ facility design needs.”

                -David J. Raysich, Managing Partner, Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP

“This alliance will provide our clients with the resources and horsepower to accomplish their goals, no matter the size or complexity a project might present. I appreciate PRA’s commitment to the Florida market with PRA partner John Holz’s move to Sarasota.”

                -Michael R. Carlson, President, Carlson Studio Architecture

About Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP: PRA specializes in architectural planning and design of health care, long-term care, educational, corporate/commercial, manufacturing, government, civic, religious and hospitality facilities. The firm has been in business for 77 years and has a staff of 65.  Partner-in-Charge of the Sarasota Office will be John Holz, AIA, a 12 year veteran of Plunkett Raysich Architects.   John relocated to Florida in 2012 to begin developing the strategic partnership with Carlson Studio Architecture.  For more information please visit us online at www.prarch.com, on LinkedIn, Facebook or follow us on Twitter @PRAtweets.

Carlson Studio Architecture is a leader in sustainable design and LEED certified projects. Sustainability is the key principal they apply to all projects. Carlson Studio Architecture, founded 17 years ago, and is a full service design firm, committed to design excellence, comprehensive project delivery and personal attention on every project. CSA dedicated to the highest quality solutions, cost control and innovative use of technology. Principal of the firm, Michael Carlson has been practicing in Sarasota since 1986.  For more information please visit our web site at www.carlsonstudio.org

Michael Carlson, AIA, LEED AP

John Holz, AIA, LEED AP

November 29th, 2012
Sarasota, Florida

The Sarasota Military Academy broke ground today on their new 36,000 SF "Urfer Family" Classroom Building. The new building will house new classrooms, a bandroom, teachers' lounge, and new offices for the guidance department. The project was made possible by the generous donation from the Urfer Family, without whom the project would not have begun. Designed by Carlson Studio Architecture, it is the 3rd phase of a multi phase master plan created by CSA in 2005. Phase 1 a 30,000 sf gym and classroom building was completed in 2008, while Phase 2 a renovation of exsiting cafeteria and administration offices was finished 2009. Phase 3 is the largest building so far and will built be Sarasota local Fred Starling of the Starling Group.

Featured on the cover of nationaly circulated Modern Steel Construction Magazine is Carlson Studio's very own Sun N Fun Lifestyle Wellness Center. An article co-writen by CSA's Jedd W. Heap, AIA, LEED AP and Hees & Assocaites owner Karl Hees, P.E., S.I., F.ASCE describes the steel and wood structural system from concept to completion. Click the link below to read more.

MSC website 

Read Here

Peter S. Horstman (PSH), a leader in Hospice design in Florida, and Carlson Studio Architecture, one of the state’s leading green design firms, have joined together to deliver state of the art hospice design throughout Florida.  The combination or Mr. Horstman’s 10 years of experience in the design of over a dozen hospice projects and Carlson Studio’s 15 year history of award winning and sustainable design throughout Florida,  create a winning group of professionals with expertise, creativity, and rock solid project delivery.

PSH/Carlson Studio Architecture has the experience to provide a complete range of design services for your hospice related projects:

• We have a strong background in healthcare related projects with an emphasis on Inpatient Hospice facilities.
• Our experience extends into Assisted Living, Independent Living and Skilled nursing facilities.
• We are experts in the preparation of architectural data for CON applications, and are able to follow the CON from pre-design through design and construction.  We work closely with your legal team and AHCA.
• We have a proven record of designing award winning, sustainable, energy efficient buildings.

PSH/Carlson Studio Architecture is dedicated to designing facilities that are healthy environments for the user, and are healthy for the environment itself.  As LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) Accredited Professionals and members of the USGBC (US Green Building Council), we have the expertise to advise your organization in selecting construction materials and methods to meet this goal.

We believe that a successful construction project is based on communication of the owner’s and occupants’ needs combined with the technical knowledge of the professional consultants.  We are certain that you will find our team has both the reputation of being good listeners and interpreters of your needs into a building that is functional, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing.

This week reporter Scott Denis from ABC 7 featured the LEED Certified Lakewood Ranch Plastic Surgery Office on his "Green Living" segment.

"A Suncoast doctor wanted his office to be not just a place that promotes health, but a healthy environment as well.  Plastic Surgeon Dr. Joshua Kreithen has accomplished both with one of the first LEED-certified doctor's offices in the state.

You feel relaxed from the moment you walk in. The soothing sounds, attractive building materials and the extensive use of natural lighting..." Click here for the full article

After extensive review, the judges for ENR Southeast's annual "Best Projects" competition met Sept. 8 and determined this year's winners. The judges chose 35 winners from a group of more than 100 entries from the states of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. They picked a top winner in each category, along with "Award of Merit" winners in many of the categories. The Palm Avenue Garage earned and "Award of Merit" in the transportaion catagory.

The Palm Avenue Garage was designed by JPA Architects and built by Suffolk Construction. Carlson Studio Eco-Consulting provided green design & LEED Administration services for the project team. The Garage is seeking LEED CS Gold certification with USGBC's LEED Greenbuilding rating system.

Green featrures include LED lighting, shade structures on the west fascade, daylighting in the retail and parking spaces, and PV panels on the roof. Energy Effiecent mechanial units and low VOC materials were also included in the building.

see the other winners

What's the biggest reason your company builds green and the biggest reason your customers say they want to build green?

"Green buildings are better buildings for the money than non-green buildings.  Now that there is a widely recognized, sophisticated way to determine how green a building is, and have that tested and verified by an independent 3rd party (the LEED rating system from the USGBC) we can determine how much better each design is.  We designed our first green building in 2000.  Our clients are motivated differently to build green.  Most like the savings generated by energy and water conservation combined with higher quality of interior space that is healthier to live or work in.  Both are quality of life issues.  Some are motivated to save money while others share our concerns about the future of the planet." - Michael Carlson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Florida Trend Magazine, Cynthia Barnett

The Cottonwood Cove Marina on Lake Mohave is registered for LEED Gold certification with the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the world’s first floating green building. This eco-friendly marina, located in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area just outside of Las Vegas, was designed by Florida’s premier green design team Carlson Studio Architecture (CSA). CSA, based in Sarasota, was selected for this unique project because of its diverse sustainable design experience including eight previous LEED Certified projects.

“Every building type has the potential to perform at a higher level with integrated environmental design considerations,” explained Project Architect Michael R. Carlson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C. “We jumped at the chance to work with this team to design a first-of-its-kind, first-class marine facility.”

The National Park Service and Forever Resorts, LLC, who will manage the marina operations at the park, conducted a dedication ceremony on June 6 at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s Cottonwood Cove Resort and Marina on Lake Mohave.

“All of us involved on this project are pioneers,” said Rex Maughan, Chairman and President of Forever Resorts. “We are very proud of this project, especially Michael Carlson and the exceptional vision he had in designing this building and this whole project.”

The floating eco-friendly structure features sustainable modular construction and state-of-the-art energy-efficient and environmentally responsible materials and fixtures. The modular wall and roof system is constructed of Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) designed to lessen the amount of construction waste, improve the insulation value of the building and provide a tighter envelope than traditional construction. The SIPs also lowered the overall weight of the building, decreasing the load on the floating foundation system. Decking is made of a composite of rice hulls and recycled plastic, and the exterior stucco contains recycled tire particles. Use of low or no volatile organic compound materials, paints and adhesives will rid the building of the typical “new building” smell, improving the overall indoor air quality.

The project’s key green building design features include:

• Extensive energy saving materials and systems, including high-performance insulated glass
• High-efficient HVAC equipment and delivery systems
• Extensive use of recycled and regionally extracted and/or manufactured materials, such as steel, drywall, metal studs, carpet, etc.
• Finish materials, paints, adhesives caulks and sealants that contain low or no volatile organic compounds to ensure healthy indoor air quality
• Clerestory windows that provide natural daylight and views to the outdoors
• Operable high/low windows provide natural ventilation, lowering the dependence on air conditioning
• The standing seam metal “cool” roof lowers heat gain by reflecting the solar energy, and allows for future installation of PV electrical panels
• Recycled and recyclable building and landscape materials
• Prevention of night sky light pollution

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is the fifth most visited national park in the country and is located adjacent to Las Vegas. Its 1.5 million acres, which include Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, hosts more than 7 million visitors each year. (http://www.nps.gov/lakemead)

Forever Resorts, LLC is an authorized concessionaire of the National Park Service that focuses on properties with access to nature and one-of-a-kind surroundings for vacations. (http://www.foreverresorts.com and http://www.foreverearth.net)

Cottonwood Cove Resort and Marina is located 90 minutes from Las Vegas and offers lakeside accommodations, boat rentals, the Cottonwood Cove Café and a full-service RV park. It is situated on Lake Mohave. (http://www.cottonwoodcoveresort.com)

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized green building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. (http://www.usgbc.org)