Vote for City Hall To Be No. 1 Building In Florida

Sarasota City Hall is listed as one of the Top 100 Buildings in the “Florida Architecture:  100 Years.  100 Places.” survey being conducted by the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Florida).  The public is invited to rank its favorite architectural sites throughout Florida, including Sarasota City Hall.

To participate, visit www.aiafla.org and select your top architectural design in the Sunshine State.  Nine structures in Sarasota are on the Top 100 list, including City Hall.  To cast a vote directly for City Hall visit this page.  The online survey will remain open to the public through March 31, 2012

City Hall was designed by Jack West in 1965 and was constructed the following year.  In 1968, it received the prestigious Excellence in Architectural Design award from the Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.  City Hall is a well preserved example of the Sarasota School of Architecture, a modern architectural movement based in Sarasota which extended throughout Florida from the 1940s through the 1960s. 

“The building exterior remains essentially unaltered,” said Dr. Clifford Smith, City of Sarasota Senior Planner.  “It embodies the visible distinctive characteristics of the Sarasota Architectural style, and represents the work of a generally acknowledged architect.” 

The Annex was added in 1979.  In May 2009, City Hall was granted a local historic designation.  Included in that designation is the Jack Cartlidge sculpture ‘Nobody’s Listening’, which was commissioned as public art for the site as part of the original City Hall building.      

For more information contact Dr. Clifford Smith, Senior Planner:  941-365-2200  ext. 4361