Landmark Designs

Over the past several years, we’ve become accustomed to watching commercial buildings materialize quickly and abundantly, to the point where seeing another project surface didn’t attract a lot of attention. A Mediterranean-style strip mall here, a Mediterranean-style office building there—just another fixture on the Southwest Florida landscape.

But every now and then, a new structure—or a fresh take on an existing one—emerges, calling for a second look. These are projects distinguished by outstanding form to suit function, which legendary architect and interior designer Frank Lloyd Wright once declared “should be one, joined in a spiritual union.”

In recognition of such exceptional examples, Gulfshore Business presents Commercial Designs of Distinction.

The finalists were selected from nearly 40 submissions made in response to a call for entry published in Gulfshore Business Daily and American Institute of Architects Florida Southwest publications. We separated the projects into six categories: commercial, medical, institutional, remodels and renovations, interior and best overall.

The projects—completed after January 2008, per the rules— were judged by editorial and art staff with the astute guidance of Carlos Urzola, AIA Florida Southwest 2009 president, who provides the comments on each project.

Best Commercial
Simmonds Corporate Center
3750 Enterprise Ave., Naples
Project Architect: Architects Unlimited
Contractor: DeAngelis Diamond Construction Inc.