Seibert Architects Awarded Oustanding Achievement in the Field of Green Buildings

Seibert Architects is pleased to announce that the C.B. Wilson House located at Urfer Park in Sarasota has recently been awarded the Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Green Buildings by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. This award is given to projects that have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of historic preservation through the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Preservation Awards Program.

This project is a historic rehabilitation of a structure that was originally constructed circa 1906. It has sustainable "green" features such as water efficient plumbing fixtures, energy efficient light fixtures,m construction waste that was recycled and contains recycled content products, and using Low or No-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and products without urea-formaldehyde.

Seibert Architects acknowledges Howell Construction Group, Inc., contractor, and Hees & Associates, structural engineers fror their participation and efforts in this project.

We continue to meet each new project with creative and effective solutions that balance the built environment with the natural environment creating a timeless design.

Article in the Herald Tribune.

As put in the Sunday January 18, 2009 edition of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune Sunday Real Estate section: Edited by Herold Bubil:

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090118/ARTICLE/901180305/2117

"Retreat by the Sea"

"With waves crashing in the background, craftsman at The Hermitage complete the
rebuilding of the Tom Dignam Beach Cottage."

The article continues to talk about The Hermitage Tom Dignam Beach Cottage and the reconstruction Seibert Architects did with Pat Ball Construction. The Cottage was restoration of salvaged materials. The 700sf cottage was built in 1934 and originally housed three small apartments.

“‘We had to totally rebuild it,' said contractor Pat Ball.’it had fallen into
total disrepair; the only thing we were able to salvage was the interior
paneling.'"

"'A lot of what we were doing was looking at what a building that was built in
1934, with no code, no (hurricane) windloads or any of that kind of stuff - how
do you take that and put it back together?' said Sam Holladay."

The article talks a little more on what was done to the structure.

"The building originally housed three small apartments; now it has one artist
studio and two rooms currently used as offices. Two of the rooms have the
original cypress paneling and built-on-site wooden doors with original latches.
But the wooden floors, plumbing fixtures and roof system, topped by rigid
insulation and 5V-crimp metal, are new.”

"The exterior paint colors were chosen after a bit of detective work. 'By
peeling off layers of paint we discovered these colors,' said Holladay."

The Hermitage Artist Retreat Inc. is a retreat designed to nurture guest artists. It is a time for artists to reflect on their work and lives. It is a six week stay that requires nothing from the artists but their self devotion to art.

"It is a very heavy working stay. It is an opportunity for focus and
reflection and that part of the creative process that is very had to carve out a
busy life," says Bruce Rodgers, Executive Director of The Hermitage Artist
Retreat.

And if you are looking for the application form,

"It is by invitation only. When you get that letter in the mail inviting
you to work, it is a very meaningful statement about where you are in your
career," says Rodgers.