Outside Sarasota Bradenton Airport in Florida, people gather at the new SRQ 15th Street Observation area to watch airplanes take off and land. Near the southeast corner of the airport’s exterior, this spot has long served as an informal observation area, where passersby stop to enjoy the sights. A new, comfortable design offers spectators shaded, safe, and stylish seating to enjoy the scenery. A viewing area for majestic metal machines, the structure is fittingly both majestic and metal itself.
The project uses 204.4 m2 (2,200 sf) of metal with a steel structure mounted to concrete footers, and aluminum composite material (ACM) panels for a sleek and eye-catching envelope. Sporting both a striking layout and distinct coatings used for the metals, the design makes a substantial visual impact. A pure white coating covers the columns and the sky-facing side of the canopy, creating a stark contrast with the blue sky and the vibrant green on the structure’s ground-facing side. With the canopy’s skyward peak, the vivid green coating is visible from afar, adding a striking pop of color to the structure’s muted concrete surroundings. The design is by Sweet Sparkman Architects, with Stellar Development as general contractor and Mullet’s Aluminum Products as metal installer.
With its folded triangular form, the canopy of this open-air structure directs attention skyward, reinforcing the aviation theme of the viewing area. Supported by three angular columns, the design evokes the profile of a stealth fighter aircraft. Without walls, it serves as a shaded shelter, offering an ideal spot for safe plane-watching. The SRQ 15th Street Observation showcases how color, composition, and creativity can make a design take flight.
