Guy Peterson OFA (Office for Architecture), which seems to be winning many of the area's most significant and progressive residential commissions, also has won Florida architecture's biggest honor.
The noted firm, headed by Guy Peterson, FAIA, has received the 2013 Firm of the Year Award from the American Institute of Architects-Florida.
The award recognizes "design, community services, education and service to the profession," according to the AIA.
"This is a very high honor," said Peterson. "It represents the hard work of both past and present members of our team who have contributed to our architecture and our commitment to our community and state in both education and service to the profession.
"We also share this honor will all of the wonderful clients we have been privileged to work with," said Peterson, whose educational efforts include teaching in the University of Florida's architecture department.
The firm also will be presented with the Merit Award for Unbuilt Design for a bayfront residence in Sarasota at the AIA Florida/Caribbean convention in Orlando on Aug. 10.
Guy Peterson OFA has won more than 70 awards, including 45 from the AIA, since the firm's founding in 1980.
LETTERS FROM OUR READERS
Regarding my column "Design Freedom" (July 14, 2013), in which a letter-writer advocated that public hearings be required before house building permits could be issued, this letter from reader Bill Zimmerman:
"In my humble opinion, you have hit the nail directly on its head. I was able to view the exterior of the new (Guy) Peterson designed house on Orange Avenue. While I would agree with those that say it's out of place, that is for now; I suspect it will have lots of company within 20 years.
"Trying to build a new house in California with the kinds of 'community and neighbor' inputs suggested, it was six months, three public hearings, more than $30,000, and ridiculous changes later before a permit was in hand.
"Don't do it! It might feel good to a few neighbors for a while, but will eventually kill or reduce the creativity whose expression helps to make modern Sarasota different from more mundane small cities."
