Southwest Florida architect first woman to win Gold Medal award

Southwest Florida architect Joyce Owens, FAIA RIBA, is the recipient of AIA Florida’s 2022 Gold Medal award, recognizing her leadership and impact as an architect.

Owens hopes the award will encourage other women architects to create and pursue opportunities to take the lead through their own work and design. “When I started my career, I knew only one female architect older than me,” she says. “As more and more women enter the field every year, I want to encourage young women to work hard, but also to take credit for the wealth of talent they bring in an inherently difficult profession.”

The Gold Medal is awarded by a jury of former winners to an individual who has a profound impact on the architecture profession and demonstrated noteworthy leadership within the AIA, as well as notable accomplishments in their community. Owens will receive the 2022 Gold Medal during an awards ceremony at the AIA Florida annual convention, at the Breakers in Palm Beach, July 30.

In 2020, the AIA Florida awarded Owens its Medal of Honor for Design, the highest design honor, recognizing her influence on design as one of the most significant architects in the state.

Launching Architecture Joyce Owens | Studio AJO in Fort Myers in 2007, Owens established her reputation for environmentally-sensitive coastal design across Southwest Florida. By integrating architecture with the design of interior and exterior spaces, Owens maximizes the coastal lifestyle experience for every project, from the 12,000-square-foot Community Parish Hall at Fort Myers St. Cecilia Catholic Church to distinctive, modern coastal homes in Naples, Sanibel, and Captiva Island.

View award-winning designs from Architecture Joyce Owens | Studio AJO at www.architecturejoyceowens.com. For more information, call 239-425-5773 or email info@studioajo.com.

REIS to discuss traffic patterns, transportation improvements

Shifting traffic patterns and the latest plans for transportation improvements will be presented by Don Scott, AICP, executive director of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization, at the Real Estate Investment Society Aug. 9 luncheon.

The Lee County MPO is the partnership responsible for coordinating transportation planning in Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and the unincorporated area of Lee County. The goal is to encourage a positive investment climate and foster sustainable development throughout the County and surrounding areas. The MPO board includes elected and appointed officials from the county, the municipalities and Florida Department of Transportation. The MPO studies project budgeting and identifies sources of funding from federal, state and local governments. The organization also funds outreach activities to improve public safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Following the presentation, Scott will respond to questions of specific interest to the real estate investment and development industry.

The meeting is sponsored by Universal Engineering Sciences and will begin promptly at 11:45 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 9, in the Magnolia Room at Pelican Preserve’s Town Center, on Treeline Avenue at Colonial Boulevard, one mile east of I-75 exit 136 in Fort Myers.

Admission is $30 for members and $45 for guests, which includes lunch. Reservations are required by Aug. 4 and may be made at the REIS web site: www.reis-swfl.org.

Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida brokers sale of Fort Myers office building

Centennial Bank has purchased a 20,402-square-foot, two-story professional office building/bank located at 12681 Creekside Lane in Fort Myers. The building’s first floor is completely built out for banking services including a secure bank vault and offices. The second floor is built out for offices.

Centennial Bank purchased this building for $6.5 million from FineMark National Bank & Trust.

Gary Tasman, CEO and principal broker, and Shawn Stoneburner, senior director of Cushman and Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC represented the seller in the transaction.

Cushman and Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC delivers integrated solutions by advising, implementing and managing on behalf of landlords, tenants, and investors through every stage of the real estate process. They advise clients in buying, selling, financing, leasing and managing assets. C&W also provides valuation advice, strategic planning and research, portfolio analysis, site selection and space location assistance.

For more information about this transaction, or to learn more about Commercial Property Southwest Florida, please contact Tasman at gtasman@cpswfl.com or visit www.cpswfl.com.

CRE Consultants announces transactions

CRE Consultants, LLC has announced the following recent transaction:

n Physicians Medical Group of Southwest Florida, LLC leased an 8,840-square-foot office space at 3800 Colonial Blvd., Suite 200, Fort Myers, from 3800 Kolonial Blvd, LLC. Enn Luthringer, CCIM of CRE Consultants negotiated the transaction.

CRE Consultants, LLC, which delivers a full spectrum of commercial real estate and property management services to property owners, investors, landlords, tenants and developers, is located at 12140 Carissa Commerce Court, Suite 102, Fort Myers. For additional information, call 239-481-3800.

MK Architecture to provide design work for chiropractic building

MK Architecture has been awarded the architectural design services for a new 5,500-square-foot medical building for Kaster Chiropractic and Associates to be located on Summerlin Road at Brantley Road in Fort Myers. The new building will house Kaster Chiropractic and will have additional medical office space for lease. This project is expected to be completed by the mid-2023.

MK Architecture, awarded 2021 Architectural Firm of the Year, specializes in commercial, multi-family, and hospitality architecture with offices in Fort Myers, Naples and Lexington, Kentucky.

MK Architecture LLC is located at 8200 College Parkway, Suite 202, Fort Myers. For more information, call 239-482-2121 or visit www.MK-ARCH.com.

DEC Contracting adds three site supervisors to oversee construction projects in Southwest Florida

DEC Contracting Group has added a trio of job site supervisors – Martin Jackson, Andrew Carrier and Robert Moffat – to provide oversight of field construction as the firm continues building a larger portfolio of projects across Southwest Florida.

Site supervisors monitor field construction and ensure projects are completed on time, within the budget and according to DEC Contracting’s high standards of workmanship. The position requires management of personnel as well as knowledge of contracts, timelines, design specifications, building codes, quality control measures, permitting, job site communications and safety compliance.

DEC Contracting offers design-build, general contracting and construction management services for a variety of commercial construction projects, including retail centers, office buildings, corporate headquarters, nonprofit and government facilities, historic properties, religious buildings and more.

Jackson has more than 25 years of commercial construction experience from Texas to Florida. He started his career as a superintendent for mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors before being promoted to general superintendent.

Carrier earned bachelor’s degrees in business management and civil engineering before starting his career in Connecticut as a project manager for a civil engineering firm that managed transportation projects. His two decades of work experience include positions as director of public works, assistant director of a planning agency and associate with a civil engineering firm.

Moffat has more than 20 years of experience as a commercial superintendent managing multiple projects, supervising employees and subcontractors, conducting project status meetings, developing project schedules, managing budgets, reviewing plans, promoting safety and ensuring job sites remain clean.

Founded in 2014, DEC Contracting Group is a Fort Myers-based commercial construction contractor offering design-build, general contracting and construction management services. The firm’s project portfolio includes retail centers, office buildings, corporate headquarters, nonprofit and government facilities, historic properties, religious buildings and more. DEC Contracting’s areas of specialization include new construction, buildouts, additions and renovations, as well as green building and LEED construction. For additional information, please visit DECcontracting.com or call 239-332-4322.