MCFADDEN NATURE CENTER EARNS AIA FLORIDA DESIGN AWARD

McFadden Nature Center  |  Donalsonville, GA

Straughn Trout Architects is beyond proud to share that its project, the McFadden Nature Center, has earned an AIA Florida Design Award for 2023—one of the most prestigious awards bestowed by the AIA Florida. More than 250 submissions from Florida and Puerto Rico were evaluated by a Panama City, Panama-based jury of architectural experts. STA was presented with this award at the AIA Florida Design & Honor Awards on July 29. Read more about the project here.

Photo credit: AIA Florida

The Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects, headquartered in Tallahassee, represents the interests of more than 3,900 members in Florida and the Caribbean. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct that assures the client, the public and colleagues of an AIA-member architect’s dedication to the highest standards in professional practice.

 

SJRWMD APOPKA SERVICE CENTER ACHIEVES FGBC GOLD CERTIFICATION

STA is proud to share that the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Apopka Service Center earned GOLD Certification by the Florida Green Building Coalition. This designation is awarded to buildings that exemplify the highest standards for sustainability in the State of Florida.

[Above: East façade of the SJRWMD Apopka Service Center.]

The Apopka Service Center is a 17,160 SF multi-purpose office and training facility for the SJRWMD. The project was delivered in conjunction with The Collage Companies, utilizing the Design-Build approach, allowing for streamlined communication between the contractor/design team, subcontracts, and owner.

STRAUGHN TROUT ARCHITECTS NAMED TO THE 2023 GATOR100

Straughn Trout Architects (STA) was named to the University of Florida’s 2023 Gator100 during a ceremony on April 21 in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on UF’s campus. This is the third time in five years STA has earned this prestigious honor.

Each year, the Gator100 recognizes the world’s fastest-growing Gator businesses owned or led by UF alumni. Ernst & Young, independent accounting firm of the Gator100 since the program began in 2015, verifies financial information submitted by each company and calculates the rankings based on compound annual growth rate over the past three years.

For more than six decades, Straughn Trout Architects has established a reputation for creating iconic environments to live, work, play, learn and worship in Central Florida and throughout the United States. The firm’s work is diverse and carefully-crafted, including new designs for contemporary complex structures; educational and institutional campuses; and historic building restorations & redevelopments. STA’s Managing Principal, Tim Hoeft, AIA and Principal Jon Kirk, AIA, are alumni of the School of Architecture at the University of Florida College of Design, Construction, and Planning.

The 2023 Gator100 celebrated companies from over 18 industries, with the top three representing construction and design, health, and real estate. Of the 100 businesses, 77 were Florida companies with other top state headquarters including Georgia, South Carolina, and California.

“These UF alumni-owned or -led companies create jobs, add value to our communities, and make an impact around the world,” said Brian K. Danforth, Assistant Vice President of Development and Executive Director of the UF Alumni Association. “These 2023 honorees represent the very best of our Gator entrepreneurs and business leaders. They shine a bright light on the University of Florida and the graduates it produces – people with vision, drive and determination.”

View the complete list of 2023 Gator100 honorees at https://gator100.ufl.edu/2023-honorees.

MCFADDEN NATURE CENTER EARNS AIA TAMPA BAY MERIT AWARD

At the 2022 AIA Tampa Bay Honor & Design Awards, STA’s project, the McFadden Nature Center, earned a Merit Award for Unbuilt Commercial Design. STA Principal & Project Architect, Jon Kirk, AIA accepted the award.

Jon Kirk, AIA accepts award for the McFadden Nature Center; Photo Credit: Mark Borosch Photography

STRAUGHN TROUT ARCHITECTS PRESENTED WITH MERIT AWARD BY THE AIA TAMPA BAY

At the 2021 AIA Tampa Bay Honor & Design Awards, Straughn Trout Architects was presented with a Merit Award for the AdventHealth Fieldhouse & Conference Center project in Winter Haven, Florida. Merit Awards demonstrate a commitment to excellence in architectural design.

Additionally, STA Principal Jon Kirk, AIA was recognized with an Honor Award for his individual experience as Project Architect for the Lake Crago Outdoor Recreation Complex.

TIM HOEFT NAMED TO UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION’S “40 GATORS UNDER 40”

Tim Hoeft, AIA, Managing Principal of Straughn Trout Architects, is one of a select group of University of Florida alumni named to this year’s prestigious “40 Gators Under 40.” The annual awards program was established in 2006 to recognize alumni under the age of 40 whose achievements positively reflect The Gator Nation. Criteria for the competitive award include making a significant impact on the candidate’s industry and having civic or professional accomplishments at the state, national or international level. 

“The word outstanding barely describes the alumni in this year’s ’40 Gators Under 40’ class. These young men and women are absolutely remarkable and have already made a significant impact in their professions and communities,” said Brian Danforth, executive director of the UF Alumni Association. “Collectively, they’re a wonderful reflection on The Gator Nation® and its potential to change the world.” 

The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes graduates from all UF’s 16 colleges. This year’s honorees range from doctors and pharmacists to entrepreneurs and artists. Past award winners include meteorologist Stephanie Abrams, politician Adam Putnam and sportscaster and television personality Laura Rutledge. 

The 167-year-old University of Florida has nearly than 450,000 alumni residing in every U.S. state and in more than 150 countries. The university has a long history of established programs in international education, research and service, and is one of only 17 public, land-grant universities in the prestigious Association of American Universities. It is ranked No. 6 in the most recent U.S. News and World Report’s list of public universities. The UF Alumni Association is responsible for a network of nearly 100 Gator Clubs, is actively involved with the recruitment of superior students, and hosts outreach and on-campus programs to connect alumni with their alma mater.