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Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida

INTRODUCTION
As part of an academic assignment with the University of Florida, and in collaboration with Sarasota County Parks and Benderson Development, our graduate design studio was instructed to design a world-class rowing facility consisting of a total of 43,000 square-feet of recreational buildings and boat house, seated upon one of North America’s only IOC-accepted bodies of water.

Named after philanthropist and major retail developer Nathan Benderson, the park was donated to the county by the Benderson Family.

TYPOLOGY
My proposal for the park consisted of a massive 180′ wide x 620′ long semi-permeable sunscreen. All main structures for the facility including an auditorium, classrooms, catering and event spaces, as well as workout rooms for the Sarasota Row Club, would be sheltered below it. Two larger open-air spaces intended for general use were also integrated with this canopy.

Academic project designed while at the University of Florida Graduate School of Architecture under Sarasota architect Guy Peterson.

University of Florida School of Architecture, 2009 ©
Sarasota, Florida

Critics: Sportscaster Dick Vitale, Sarasota Parks director and the Benderson Team.