Sarasota Orchestra completes design ensemble for new Music Center

The Sarasota Orchestra has selected the final key player for its symphony of designers of its planned new facilities at its 32-acre site at 5701 Fruitville Road near I-75.

The Orchestra has announced Houston-based OJB Landscape Architecture will join the ensemble of design architect William Rawn Associates of Boston, executive architect HKS of Orlando, acoustician and theatre planner Stages Consultants of Highland Park, New Jersey, and civil engineer George F. Young of St. Petersburg to bring its new Music Center to life.

Founded in 1989, OJB is a nationally recognized landscape architecture firm with six offices across the U.S. It is dedicated to enhancing the human experience, specializing in transforming public spaces to create meaningful connections between people and nature, according to a news release.

“Our board has always envisioned the Music Center as more than just a building. It is about the entire site,” said Sarasota Orchestra Board Chair Tom Koski in a news release. “With OJB on board, our project team can work together to create thoughtfully designed spaces that fully support the mission and programs of the Music Center, making it a true community destination for residents and visitors alike.”

OJB has won more than 150 national and international awards, including four Urban Land Institute Open Space Awards, in a global competition of the best public spaces. Notable projects include Klyde Warren Park, home of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Sundays; and Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront, where the Omaha Symphony frequently performs, which was named Fast Company’s “Best Urban Design Project for 2024.”

The firm’s work at the Music Center site will be essential in creating a sense of place, particularly on such a large site.

“There are three legs to this really important stool,” Sarasota Orchestra CEO Joe McKenna told the Observer. “One is the design architect. And then, also named recently, was the civil engineer. And then the third leg of that stool is the landscape architect. Together, they look at the site, they interpret the site, they think about designs, they think about water mitigation and access and sidewalks and plantings. 

“They make up that nucleus of what the entire project will evolve into both from a building as well as a site and a landscape and a sense of place.”

OJB has already begun collaborating with the other project partners on its role in shaping the overall architectural vision, which includes the integration of natural elements such as plants, water and terrain to create an environment that complements the architecture.

“We are thrilled to be part of this project, which embodies a forward-thinking vision for Sarasota-Manatee, focused on long-term growth and sustainability,” said OJB partner Chip Trageser in the news release. “By creating a space that evolves with the community, we are aiming to establish a lasting destination that enriches the region for generations. The integration of music and landscape also offers a unique opportunity to enhance emotional well-being and strengthen human connections across the community.”

OJB will be responsible for creating that sense of place among the large property that will include a large parking lot, stormwater management facilities, buffering between adjacent properties including a single-family neighborhood bordering the property to the north, all complimenting the design of the building itself.

McKenna likened the collaboration to that of building a fine automobile.

“It needs to look good. It needs to ride well. It needs to be comfortable,” he said. “It has to create a sense of place of anything with respect to access from sidewalks or parking and storm water, canopies over parking lots for shade, all of those kinds of things. It's really going about it in a way to make sure that every person who will use the facility — whether a musician, an audience member, an education parent, a music festival or a participant — that they're all having the maximum experience. Much like a really fine piece of music, it's well composed and has the desired impact.”

With the design team complete, the Orchestra has an ambitious timeline to present a concept in spring 2025. That’s a crucial step in determining the project budget and in launching a capital campaign to raise funds for the construction cost. The Orchestra paid $14 million in cash to acquire the site from Walmart Stores East LP in May 2023.

While working with Rawn Associations on designs to complement the building, OJB will embark on a site assessment to guide the landscape design, evaluating the soil, vegetation and regional history, with a particular focus on water management. According to the news release, the firm will prioritize sustainability and functionality to create a flexible environment that can evolve with the community’s changing needs.

Because the company is based in Houston, McKenna said OJB is deeply familiar with creating designs that flourish in tropical climates.

“The environment in Houston is not so different than Sarasota,” McKenna said. “They bring that expertise, and because they have multiple offices around the country they have a really rich and deep bench of talent to help us imagine this site.”