Florida Trust Wealth Management expands with new offices

When Hurricane Ian tore through Sanibel Island, leveling homes and businesses in its path, the Sanibel Captiva Trust Company was forced to leave its longtime Palm Ridge Road office and relocate off-island while the community began the long process of rebuilding.

The firm, which recently rebranded its seven offices under the name Florida Trust Wealth Management, was founded in 2001 by Chair Al Hanser. It began as a one-room office on Sanibel and now oversees more than $5 billion in assets with offices throughout Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay region.

That temporary move to Fort Myers sparked a broader realization: The trust company was ready to grow. It invested nearly $1 million renovating a 10,520-square-foot former bank and office building at 13525 Bell Tower Drive — a leased property that had sat vacant for eight years. In addition, the company purchased and transformed a 7,767-square-foot former Bank of America building on Sanibel, just half a mile from its original location, with a $3 million renovation.

Award-winning architect Joyce Owens of Architecture Joyce Owens LLC and its affiliate, Studio AJO, designed both spaces. Benchmark General Contractors, also based in Fort Myers, oversaw the construction. Owens is known for her modern coastal aesthetic and use of sustainable materials, and has worked with the trust company for more than 13 years; her portfolio with the firm includes the original Sanibel office and two Tampa Bay locations.

For the Fort Myers office — a two-story Mediterranean-style structure — Owens shifted her usual design approach to create an inviting and comfortable corporate environment.

“It’s a warm space now, but it wasn’t when we walked in,” she says. “It was very grim, with lots of teller stations. This space was forgotten and forlorn for a long time, but it was able to be repurposed and redesigned in a way that perfectly suits the trust company.”

Strategic changes, including replacing outdated glass to create lake views and adding custom wooden arches within the existing structure, helped transform the interior. “These weren’t offices; they were just spaces,” Owens says. “We made it feel like it’s always been here. A good building can always be brought back to life.”

The new wooden insets define each office’s entryway and frame the lake views beyond. They also echo the building’s original large, circular hanging lights, which were retained as part of the redesign.

Megan Marquardt, president of the Fort Myers office, said it was important to create a space that felt welcoming to both employees and clients — and one with enough flexibility to host client events.

While the Fort Myers and Sanibel locations serve the same mission, their designs are dramatically different. The contemporary Sanibel office features a tranquil Zen garden beneath a former drive-thru canopy, turning an adjacent conference room into a serene, green retreat. Expansive wood ceilings, modern ceiling fans and curated contemporary art give the space a distinct look that sets it apart from more traditional wealth-management firms.

The Fort Myers building will serve the wealth management company’s expanding client base in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero and Bonita Springs.

Studio AJO designer Timothy Reihm guided the reuse of many original furnishings while seamlessly integrating new elements. A large wood conference table was paired with modern chairs; original features such as iron railings and the bank vault were preserved. Reihm also incorporated lush Lady Palms and other tropical plants that both purify the air and enhance the aesthetic.

The lobby is anchored by a large brown couch with colorful throw pillows, flanked by four modern chairs around a coffee table. Throughout the building, etched glass artwork by Lucas Century — depicting dolphins, manatees, pelicans and other wildlife — adds subtle regional character. Photographs by Dennis Goodman highlight the natural beauty of Southwest Florida’s ecosystems.

“I feel like we should embrace it,” Owens says, referring to the local landscape and wildlife themes.

Each employee selected one of Goodman’s photographs for their office. “Thank God it all worked out and there was no arguing,” Marquardt says.

Despite the space’s size, its hard surfaces created significant acoustic challenges. Owens described the original soundscape as “deafening” and “uncontrollable,” especially given the amount of glass. “I’m very fond of all the glass in this office, but it could have been a curse,” she says. “Glass and noise are exhausting and painful together.”

The firm consulted with California-based Snowsound USA to address the problem. The solution included strategically placed rugs and acoustic panels — some discreet, others overtly decorative. One installation features abstract birds suspended from the ceiling, their shape echoed in wall panels designed to absorb sound while appearing to follow their flight.

Although it’s the firm’s only location on the mainland, Owens said the design’s emphasis on birds and wildlife keeps the company connected to its Sanibel and Captiva roots.