Transforming Places. Inspiring Lives.

On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Architecture Sarasota (AS) hosted the the Lambda Alpha International (LAI) FL Suncoast Chapter (Chapter) for an empowering meeting at their stellar McCulloch Pavilion headquarters. Thanks to J.P.Morgan Private Bank's generous sponsorship the meeting was free to attend: Tiki Go Go provided delicious food and beverage for the pre-and post-meeting receptions.

Chapter Emcee John McCarthy welcomed guests to the meeting and facilitated a quick round of introductions. After Chapter President Holly Elmore's opening remarks, Chapter Secretary Sylwia Majewski inducted new member Jim Boyd via a formal ceremony. John introduced AS President Marty Hylton who gave a superb presentation to the nearly 60 LAI and AS members and prospective members attending the event.

Though the meeting ran over its allotted time, guests enjoyed the lovely post-meeting reception and lingered while making new friends and reconnecting with long-term acquaintances.

The IMPACT article, Announcing the LAI FL Suncoast Chapter, details the Chapter history during the development stage, the keys to success, and future Chapter plans. 

About LAI

LAI is the honorary global network for thought leaders 

in all fields related to the preservation and sustainable development of land.

LAI is a growing network of chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Each chapter offers a wide variety of programs with industry leaders, discussion forums, community service projects and networking events.

Membership is highly selective through a nomination process initiated by an LAI member. Nominees for LAI membership must demonstrate ten or more years of experience in their fields, professional distinction, and outstanding contributions to the community in their field of endeavor.

LAI is committed to excellence and high professional standards to make a difference. A value to members is knowing you are someone who helped make that difference.

Transforming Places, Inspiring Lives
Founded in 2021 when the Center for Architecture Sarasota and the Sarasota Architectural Foundation merged, AS welcomed Marty as its first president in 2023. Via private funding, the Center for Architecture Sarasota renovated the Scott Building, originally designed as a furniture showroom in 1959, and moved into the renamed McCulloch Pavilion in October 2015. Architecture Sarasota resides in the McCulloch Pavilion.

Architecture Sarasota stewards the legacy of the Sarasota School of Architecture and provides a forum for the education, advocacy and celebration of good design in the global built environment.

Marty during his opening remarks
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Marty opened his excellent presentation with an overview of the Sarasota School of Architecture (School) with a multitude of iconic images intertwined with interesting, often humorous, anecdotes regarding the architects and/or the buildings.

As stated in the November 2022 Sarasota Magazine article, Essential Intelligence About the Sarasota School of Architecture, "Sarasota is ground zero for a midcentury modern architectural movement called the Sarasota School of Architecture, ... The post-World War II Sarasota School movement lasted from just 1941 to 1966 but left an indelible mark. Its most heralded names include Philip Hiss, Ralph Twitchell, Paul Rudolph, Victor Lundy, Jack West and Gene Leedy. Many of the original Sarasota School homes are in the Lido Shores neighborhood, but other examples from the school can also be found on Siesta Key and throughout the city."

In its capacity as steward for the School, AS is active via their We Educate, We Advocate, and We Celebrate platforms. 

The 2025 MOD Weekend celebrates Moderns that Matter: Sarasota 100, an initiative that launched in March 2024 and includes an exhibition and book. The initiative compiled a list of 100 places and spaces organized over ten use categories and detailed them chronologically. #1 on the list is Cà d'Zan, House of John and Mabel Ringling designed by Ralph Twitchell and built in 1926. #100 on the list is the present day Waterfront.

AS hosts an annual MOD Weekend in November with a plethora of activities focused on the School, with the 2025 weekend featuring the Sarasota 100. Activities include an opening reception at the Umbrella House, a famous School home, a symposium hosted at the Ringling College of Art & Design, three tours throughout the weekend, and ends with an open house at the McCullough Pavilion. The tours include The Bay Architecture Tour, a self-guided or shuttle tour of homes, and Sarasota 100 Tour by Water, a two-hour boat tour via the LeBarge Tropical Cruises.

SA's Philip Hanson Hiss Award honors today's pioneers and champions of innovative design within the global built environment. As stated in the 2025 AS press release: 

Architecture Sarasota has named internationally acclaimed landscape architecture and urban design practice OLIN as the 2025 recipient of its Philip Hanson Hiss Award, recognizing their transformative landscapes that enrich communities and connect culture with the living world, including the recent revitalization of Sarasota’s Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, a 2024 TIME’s World’s Greatest Place. 

Beyond the steward for the School, AS is active within Environmental Adaptation, Sustainable Urbanism, and Modern Dwelling arenas.

Marty concluded his impressive presentation with the following quote from Philip Hanson Hiss:

Buildings speak a great deal louder than words. They say many things about a community’s attitude toward education, toward intellectualism, toward creativity. They speak of interest or apathy, pride or neglect.

The Holly Elmore Images (HEI) album, 06-25-25 LAI FL Suncoast Meeting, provides pictorial recap of the meeting. Marty's PPT presentation is available for download at this LINK.

J.P. Morgan Private Bank, event sponsor
After serving the Tampa Bay market for over 55 years, J.P. Morgan Private Bank opens its inaugural full-service Private Bank office 50-miles south in Sarasota; the official opening is slated for the fourth quarter 2025.

Founded in 1871, J.P. Morgan was integrated within JPMorgan Chase & Co. through a series of mergers and acquisitions. With over 75 offices, J.P. Morgan Private Bank is committed to fostering meaningful relationships and building community among exceptional individuals.

Cameron showcasing JP Morgan's 
impressive initiatives
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

At the Chapter meeting, Cameron Barsoum, Private Banker at J.P. Morgan's Private Bank, showcased J.P. Morgan's impressive commitment to affordable housing and environmental stewardship. In Orlando, JPMorgan Chase & Co provided $29.1 million to Wendover Housing Partners. By private and public entities working together, Catchlight Crossings will add 1,000 units of much-needed affordable and workforce housing to Orlando’s tourism hub.

“Together with Wendover and Universal we are redefining what affordable housing can and should be by creating a model that can be replicated to help address the affordable housing crisis on a national level,” said Tammy Haylock-Moore, Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase Community Development Banking.

In an April 2022 press release, JPMorgan Chase unveiled the design for its new state-of-the-art global headquarters at 270 Park Avenue. As New York City’s largest all-electric tower with net-zero operational emissions, the global headquarters will exceed the highest standards in sustainability. 

On April 23, 2025, the LAI New York City Chapter toured the under-construction 270 Park Avenue JPMorgan Chase headquarters site. From the tour synopsis:

Our hosts walked us through the building’s innovative engineering solutions, including its structural approach to accommodating an entirely new tower on the same footprint as the former Union Carbide Building.  The impressive scale of the construction site, thoughtful integration of public space and green building practices, and the cutting-edge design features to make the office spaces accommodating and productive left attendees with a strong appreciation for the complexity and vision required to execute a project of this magnitude.  The new headquarters promises to provide an enduring icon for the Manhattan skyline.

Future Chapter Activities
As the meeting closed, Holly spoke of chapter activities that bring value to individual members and the community at large. 

One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours
LAI SemiQ East Coast Tour: Land Use & History (1776-2026) celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a series of tours hosted by the seven Eastern Region chapters: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, FL Suncoast, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. The One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours hosted by the LAI Fl Suncoast Chapter are the first tour in the series.

John announcing the Tours 
in his opening remarks
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

On February 25 – 27, 2026, the FL Suncoast Chapter welcomes distinguished land economics professionals from around the globe to the Sarasota/Bradenton area during the prime winter season. Due to bus limitations, the One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours are limited to 45 out-of-town guests; local chapter members will participate via their own transportation.

As detailed in the Tour Itinerary, the tours consist of an opening reception, two days of tours filled with prominent speakers including a two-hour Sarasota Bay History Cruise, and finishes with a Closing Dinner Reception (pending sponsorship.)

A nine-person Tours Organizing Committee meets every two to three weeks, with all participants active with completing tasks. A current main focus is Tours Sponsorship procurement so registration may open in late July.

Water Challenges, Economics, and Nature-Based Solutions PAD
As a precursor to the February 25 – 27, 2026 One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours, the Chapter intends to host a Professional Advisory Delegation (PAD) on Wednesday, February 25 9 am – 4 pm. The PAD focus is on local Water Challenges, Economics, and Nature-Based Solutions.

An LAI PAD is a group of prominent members from around the globe that provides expertise and advice on land-related issues. The RiA Magazine article, Rio Piedras: revitalizing beyond their wildest dreams, provides an overview of the first PAD hosted in May 2019.

The One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours will bring distinguished participants with diverse land economics expertise to Sarasota; thus, it is synergistic to host a PAD the day prior to the tours.

The tentative agenda consists of four morning speakers followed by a brainstorming session during lunch. After lunch, Jim Musbach, Managing Principal at Economic & Planning Systems and Golden Gate Chapter member, will lead the afternoon strategy session.

Morning speakers will present on the following topics:

• Coastal Water Dynamics
• Surface water – Sarasota Bay, Gulf of Mexico, Inland Waters
• Extreme Weather 
• Local & Regional Economics

Land economics is the common thread within the various topics.

Execution of the PAD is dependent on securing appropriate funding.

Ad Hoc Committees

Jim with his LAI sponsor Kelly Gilliland
and Chapter Secretary Sylwia Majewski
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

The Chapter Responsible Communities Ad Hoc Committee met in person for the third time on July 1. At the June meeting, the group decided to focus on water and education; the focus served as the catalyst for the previously mentioned PAD. At the July meeting, the group took responsibility for the PAD's morning presentations; the committee will prepare the Coastal Water Dynamics presentation that sets the stage for the empowering day.

On July 8 new Chapter member Jim Boyd hosts the inaugural Affordable Housing Taskforce meeting at SVN's offices. With strong interest, fourteen members and prospective members confirmed attendance at the meeting. 

With consistent presentation-style meetings, ad hoc committees along with the One-by-Land, Two-by-Sea Tours and the Water Challenges, Economics, and Nature-Based Solutions PAD, the LAI FL Suncoast Chapter lives up to its commitment to bring value to individual members and the community.