The Hub

Halflants + Pichette is redeveloping 1560 Orange Avenue in Sarasota, now reintroduced as The Hub. Long a familiar landmark in the community, the building is being transformed into a gathering place where visitors can meet, work, and relax. The project revitalizes the existing structure while creating new opportunities for connection within the city’s commercial core. Through careful renovation and landscape design, The Hub will become a social destination that reflects Sarasota’s creative and entrepreneurial energy.

The redevelopment focuses on both preservation and renewal. Interior renovations update the building for flexible use while maintaining its character. A historic mural will be restored as part of the design, reestablishing the site’s connection to its past. The building’s new identity is centered around accessibility and openness, with improvements that invite public use and encourage community activity throughout the day.

REVITALIZATION THROUGH COMMUNITY DESIGN

Exterior improvements expand the building’s role as a civic space. The existing plaza will be resurfaced and shaded by a new canopy that incorporates seating and tables for outdoor gatherings. A landscaped park adjacent to the plaza introduces greenery and comfort, enhancing the pedestrian experience along Orange Avenue. These upgrades blend commercial functionality with public amenity, reinforcing The Hub’s place as a welcoming environment for residents and visitors.

As Sarasota commercial architects, Halflants + Pichette designed The Hub to balance heritage and renewal, creating a modern space rooted in community identity. The redevelopment preserves the character of a familiar site while positioning it for the city’s next phase of growth. Through design that connects people and place, The Hub will once again become an active center for Sarasota’s downtown life.

Built for a waterfront environment, the residence combines durable materials, extended rooflines, and energy-efficient systems to withstand coastal conditions. Every opening is designed to frame the surrounding landscape and draw the eye toward the creek. The result is a modern home that feels grounded to its site yet light in appearance, expressing the studio’s philosophy of creating architecture that lives comfortably within Sarasota’s subtropical climate.