AIA FLSW Fall Lecture | Jerry Sparkman

Jerry Sparkman is one of the founding principals at Sweet Sparkman Architects & Interiors. Since 2002, Sweet Sparkman has grown to 50 employees with two offices in Sarasota and St. Petersburg, Florida. Over the past two decades, Jerry has created beautiful, resilient designs anchored in his deep knowledge of the coastal environment. His work in high end residential, public parks, higher education, and community spaces continue to highlight his focus on active listening to clients’ stated goals and careful analysis of every parameter of the project, including financial, physical, social, and environmental conditions. He uses both traditional methods and state-of-the-art technologies to deliver exceptional designs across living, working, and recreational settings. Jerry’s thoughtful merging of local culture and history combined with the goal of long-term community growth and resiliency is exemplified in his work. Sweet Sparkman has just recently been selected as the Executive Architect for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center in collaboration with Renzo Piano Workshop. Other notable projects under way include: the Sarasota Bay Park, Selby Gardens Epiphyte Exhibit Gardens, Eckerd College Dining Hall and Student Center, Resiliency Master Plan, and Scovanner Pavilion, and numerous private homes throughout Florida, Colorado and Hawaii. Underpinning all of this work is the belief that nature can provide unlimited inspiration for architects and designers. Sparkman’s fundamental design philosophy is summarized as follows: “respect the land and the people, and the rest will follow”.

Host or Publisher AIA Florida SouthWest