BOTA Center

The BOTA Center, formerly the Baker's Badcock Furniture Store, is a significant example of Sarasota's mid-century commercial architecture and one of the region's last remaining examples of Roadside Architecture. Completed in 1957 on the western edge of the Rosemary District, the building was celebrated by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune as "the most modern of any store in the organization," reflecting the era’s progressive architectural aspirations. Characterized by an expansive band of storefront glazing that wraps the single-story showroom, the building dissolves the boundary between interior and exterior, making the display of merchandise and everyday activity integral to the streetscape.

After the Badcock business relocated in 2005, the building remained vacant until Latitude 27 Properties acquired it in 2015. Recognizing its architectural significance, the developer chose to adaptively reuse the structure, transforming it into a multi-tenant commercial building while preserving its defining mid-century character. In collaboration with the owner, Hive Architects restored key architectural features—including the original storefront glazing, the exposed steel post-and-beam structure, and the terrazzo flooring—while carefully integrating modern building systems into the historic shell.

Hive Architects also led the successful effort to secure historic designation for the building, resulting in its inclusion on the City of Sarasota Local Register of Historic Places. The restoration received the 2018 Outstanding Achievement Award for Adaptive Use from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, recognizing the project's thoughtful balance of preservation and contemporary intervention.

Today, the BOTA Center has found a successful second life as a vibrant destination for creative and professional enterprises. Its adaptive reuse demonstrates how thoughtful rehabilitation can preserve Sarasota's architectural heritage while providing flexible commercial spaces that continue to contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of the Rosemary District.

Location:
Rosemary District | Sarasota, Florida

Status:
Completed, 2017

Awards:
2020 | AIA Florida Gulf Coast Honor Award for Historic Preservation & Restoration
2019 | AIA Florida/Caribbean Honor Award of Excellence for Historic Preservation & Restoration
2018 | Florida Trust for Historic Preservation's Outstanding Achievement Award for Adaptive Use

Photography:
© 2018 | Ryan Gamma