Paul Rudolph's iconic Umbrella House. Provided photo.

Ten speakers, each with 10 images that change every 30 seconds. The premise is simple, yet effective. Since 2009, Michael Halflants of Halflants + Pichette Architects has organized the 10x10 speaker series, bringing in community leaders and creative minds to speak on their careers. Each speaker has five minutes to present a 10-slide presentation illuminating a specific project or part of their career they'd like to share.

On November 12, a special edition of the 10x10 speaker series came to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Ahead of the weekend’s 2026 Sarasota Design Conference, presented by the American Institute of Architects Gulf Coast Chapter, this special edition featured 10 Sarasota-based architects all at different stages of their careers. Karl Bernhard, Sweet Sparkman Architects; Selma Goker, Schimberg Group; Damien Blumetti; Hannah Boehmer, TWO Architects; William Craig, Seibert Architects; Michael Halflants, Halfants + Pichette Architects; Marty Hylton, Architecture Sarasota; Alexi Karavokiris; Jonathan Parks, Solstice Planning and Architecture and Guy Peterson spoke at the event.

Hylton, the president of Architecture Sarasota, spoke on the significance of the Sarasota School of Architecture, a highly influential movement of mid-century modernism that still lives on today. “Our central argument is that the Sarasota School is more than a collection of iconic midcentury buildings or a particular architectural style. It's a tradition of a concept called creative disruption,” says Hylton. “Disruptors can be people, hurricanes, events or buildings that challenge conventions, reimagine possibilities and advance new ideas about architecture and design.”

Goker and her husband, Ringling College faculty member Dr. Christopher S. Wilson, spoke on their experience renovating Lustron Home #1687, one of roughly 2,500 ‘kit homes’ from the Lustron Corporation. A prefabricated framework of porcelain-enameled steel plates, their Lustron Home came with specific challenges, but also certain benefits, such as the ability to magnetically attach anything to the walls of their home. “We like to be involved firsthand in revealing and learning from the layers of history, materials, technology and effort that contribute to a structure,” says Goker. “Then we add our own layer before passing it on to the next owner.”

Sarasota Design Conference, November 13-15, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2256 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota.

Paul Rudolph's iconic Umbrella House. Provided photo.

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