Sustainable Design Blog

December 6, 2012 – Sarasota, FL –Michael Carlson was appointed chair of the Sarasota Housing Authority. SHA provides quality, affordable housing in the Sarasota area and is governed by a Board of Commissioners who are appointed by the Mayor of Sarasota and confirmed by the Sarasota City Commission. Michael has served on the Board since 2010.

Michael Carlson earned bachelor and master degrees from Ball State University in Architecture and Environmental Design. He began practicing architecture in Florida in 1989 and founded Carlson Studio Architecture (CSA) in 1997, a firm that prides itself on high quality design for sustainable construction. CSA recently earned its eleventh Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification and Commercial Interiors project of the year for the Florida Gulf Coast chapter of the US Green Building Council (USGBC). In addition to his service for SHA, Carlson is chairman of the USGBC Regional Committee. He is a founding board member for the Florida Gulf Coast chapter of USGBC and a previous chairman of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Green Business Leadership Council.

December 6, 2012 – Sarasota, FL –Carlson Studio Architecture recently received the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED for Commercial Interiors outstanding project of the year award. The chapter held its 3^rd Annual LEEDership Awards ceremony on October 23, 2012, where it recognized outstanding projects and people “LEEDing the way” to a more sustainable Florida Gulf Coast. 

The award winning project by Carlson Studio Architecture (CSA), Lakewood Ranch Plastic Surgery, offers a serene, spa-like atmosphere, with specially designed eco-friendly features to improve quality of life in a medical environment. 

For lasting sustainable results CSA utilized only renewable resources such as bamboo, cork, carpet made from recycled materials, and low or no VOC (volatile organic compound) adhesives and paints. The firm also specified the installation of an energy efficient HVAC system, translucent and transparent glass installations for optimal daylight, energy efficient fluorescent lighting, occupancy sensors for lighting in exam rooms and offices, low-flow plumbing fixtures and motion sensor faucets. Their efforts saved Lakewood Ranch Plastic Surgery over 15% of energy usage and an approximate 50% of water usage as compared to traditional construction.

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

LEEDership Award Winners Celebrate!
St. Petersburg, FL --- The U.S. Green Building Council - Florida Gulf Coast Chapter hosted its third annual LEEDership Awards on October  23rd, 2012, recognizing and honoring those outstanding projects, inspirational businesses, dedicated individuals, and instrumental Chapter members who are ‘LEEDing the Way’ to a more sustainable built environment on the Gulf Coast of Florida and beyond.

Alexis Muellner, Editor of the Tampa Bay Business Journal, emceed the evening at the beautiful Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg. The event included a Networking/Cocktail Hour in the Gardens, delicious appetizers and the Awards Ceremony to conclude the evening.

Mayor Bill Foster graciously accepted the award for Municipality of the Year on behalf of the City of St. Petersburg, and many other green building leaders were in attendance to celebrate the projects that were nominated and won awards at the event.

Over 100 attendees celebrated the successes of the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the US Green Building Council over the past year.

2012 LEEDership Awards Winners

Outstanding LEED  for Commercial Interiors
Carlson Studio Architecture
« Lakewood Ranch Plastic Surgery Center

Outstanding LEED Core and Shell
Carlson Studio Eco Consulting
«City of Sarasota- Palm Avenue Parking Garage

Outstanding LEED Existing Buildings
« Waldemere Medical Plaza

Outstanding LEED for Homes – Multi-Family
« Eco Oaks Apartments

Outstanding Chapter Member of the Year
« Taylor Ralph – with REAL Building Consultants

Outstanding LEED for Existing Buildings - School
«Pasco County – Marlowe Elementary

Outstanding LEED for New Construction -- Government
« Ft. Pierce U.S. Courthouse(GSA)

Outstanding LEED for New Construction – Higher Education
« UF – Hough Hall Graduate School of Business

Outstanding LEED for New Construction -- Retail
« Dunkin’ Donuts – St. Petersburg

Outstanding LEED for New Construction -- General
« Anna Maria Island Historic Green Village

Outstanding Green Business
« Gilbane Building Company

Outstanding Green Government
« City of St. Petersburg

Presidents Award – Outstanding Service to the Green Building Community
« Progress Energy 

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to tour Sarasota’s newest LEED Gold building, Sun N Fun’s Lifestyle Wellness Center. This year the Gulfcoast AIA will be hosting free tours of the project at their annual meeting. Also in attendance will be members of the Green Drinks networking group, USGBC, CSI, and GBCX members. All are welcome to attend and enjoy cocktails & hor d’oeuvres on the pool deck.

Designed by local architecture firm Carlson Studio Architecture, the Lifestyle Center features an indoor pool, aerobics room, and extensive exercise facilities. Sustainably designed, the project captures rainwater, uses the pool for cooling, and uses local materials. Architecturally it has been heralded as a new landmark with it’s soaring curved wood beams and innovative steel ‘V’ shaped column.

All are welcome to attended the tour and reception, please rsvp @ info@aiagulfcoast.org

Event info:

October 25^th, 2012

6pm – 8pm

Sun N Fun

7125 Fruitville Rd

Sarasota, Florida, USA 34240

PINK DRINKS:

Green Drinks goes PINK for Breast Cancer Awareness

This month Green Drinks will be held at EAT HERE’s 2^nd floor bar in Sarasota and we will be collecting donations for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk-a-thon. Bring cash or checks on September 25^th and wear pink to show your support.

Donations will be going to Jedd Heap’s team “Monkey’s Marchers” so be prepared to stuff his Pink Bra Tuesday night. You can also make donations online at http://t.co/l3nKiniv

All are welcome to attend...

September 25^th, 2012

5:30 - 7:30

Eat Here (upstairs)

1888 Main Street

Sarasota, FL 34236 US

www.eatheresarasota.com

EDC, the official magazine for the LEED professional, is proud to announce that Michael Carlson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, and Grace Carlson, APR, LEED Green Associate, of Carlson Studio Architecture are the winners of EDC’s “Get Exposure for Your LEED Project” contest.

The campaign asked readers to submit a photo of themselves taken in front of their LEED-certified projects. The EDC staff then selected the winning projects based upon the quality and composition of the photo in addition to the responses of a brief questionnaire.

The winning photo had the 11,000-square-foot LEED Gold healthcare facility, the Center for Building Hope, serving as the backdrop for the Carlsons, who said of the project, “More critical than ever, the architecture had to actively participate in the healing process. The healing power of a green building was recognized and instituted in the creation of this facility.”

Full Article

Sarasota, FL (May 2012) — DWY Landscape Architects has received three (3) prestigious awards from the Florida Chapter of the American Association of Landscape Architects (FLASLA) as part of the annual design awards program. The distinctions included an award of Honor in the category of Institutional Design for the Center for Building Hope (formerly called the Wellness Community Center) and awards of both Merit and Excellence in Residential Design for projects in Bird Key and Boca Grande. 

The Center for Building Hope submittal received an Award of Honor in the Institutional Design category. This project was conceived to be a worldwide prototype for cancer support communities. Located on the edge of a conservation area overlooking a wetland, DWY blurred the lines between the built site and its natural setting while establishing infinite spaces for healing. Amenities include a medicinal herb garden, tai chi lawn, labyrinth, fitness trail and dramatic courtyard. A truly collaborative effort, the project embraced LID strategies and achieved a LEED Gold certification.

Michael R. Carlson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C was elected by the US Green Business Council Florida/Caribbean Regional Board of Directors to Chair for 2012-2013 term. This is...