Project Team

Arquitectonica/H3 | Building Architect

A major presence on the national and international architectural stage, H3, a design studio within Arquitectonica specializing in theatres and arts and culture buildings, has designed some of the most prominent theaters in the country, including the Claire Tow Theatre and Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, the Dijon Performing Arts Center in France, the Theatre for a New Audience in New York, the renovation of Radio City Music Hall and the Denver Performing Arts Center, the nation’s second largest center for the arts after the Lincoln Center.

The design team is led by Bernardo Fort-Brescia and John Fontillas. Fort-Brescia is a graduate of Princeton University and received a Master of Architecture from Harvard University, where he also taught. He is one of the founding partners of Arquitectonica, a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a recipient of numerous design awards, including ULI’s Lifetime Achievement Award. A planner, architect, and partner of the firm, Fontillas is a graduate of New York University with a Master of Urban Planning/Policy degree. Fontillas is a member of numerous affiliations including American Institute of Architects and American Planning Association.

AMS Planning & Research | Arts Management Advisors

Since 1988, AMS has helped organizations clarify their purpose, measure success, and create lasting impact. AMS has provided critical planning and advisory services on over $9 billion in facilities, and worked with hundreds of clients including producers, presenters, foundations, government agencies, and educational institutions across the arts, culture, and entertainment industry. Steven Wolff is the founding Principal of AMS Planning & Research Corp. and is leading the firm’s Capital Campaign efforts, applying his more than 30 years of experience providing counsel to arts, culture and entertainment enterprises on strategic initiatives.

Fisher Dachs Associates | Theatre Consultants

Fisher Dachs Associates is one of the world’s leading theatre planning and design consultants. Focused on designing successful projects in accordance with real programmatic and budgetary goals, Fisher Dachs Associates collaborates actively with artistic and managing directors, leaders of cultural organizations, building owners and architects so that the rooms we jointly create are intimate, dynamic, and technically superb spaces for audiences and performers alike.

Work with Gulfshore Playhouse is led by Joshua Dachs,  recognized as one of the world’s leading theatre consultants with more than 30 years of experience providing planning, programming, and design leadership for hundreds of successful projects.

Arquitectonica GEO | Landscape Architect

ArqGEO has been redefining landscape architecture in South Florida for nearly 15 years. Led by Laurinda H. Spear and Margarita Blanco, two women steeped in architecture, ArqGEO has elevated the conversation about the important role landscape architecture plays and the contributions it can make in the face of climate change and sea level rise. ArqGEO works in close collaboration with clients, architects, planners, engineers, developers and construction professionals to create aesthetic and functional design solutions.

CCI | Code/Accessibility

CCI is a Fire Protection Engineering and Life Safety Consulting firm that adds value by providing the highest quality, most creative state–of–the–art concepts, solutions, and engineered designs. Through its specialized expertise, provided by the most knowledgeable and experienced fire protection experts in the industry, CCI delivers results that save time and money, achieve desired designs at the most economical costs, and reduce problems in the design, bidding, permitting, and construction process.

Cost+Plus | Cost Estimator

Cost+Plus is a professional firm dedicated to providing project and cost management services for new and renovation cultural facility projects worldwide. Cost+Plus provides realistic and reliable budget projections exclusively for cultural projects comprising of performing arts, museum, and attraction facilities.

Desman Engineering | Parking Garage Design

Founded in 1973, DESMAN is a top-tier national firm that specializes in parking consulting, design, planning and restoration. One of the leading planners and designers of functionally efficient, attractive and cost-effective parking solutions, DESMAN is experienced in managing complex client, stakeholder and community involvement from concept to completion.

Gates Construction | CM PRECON Local

GATES is a full-service construction management, general contracting and design-build firm with offices throughout Florida and a market footprint covering the Southeast United States and Latin America. GATES was founded in 1993 in Southwest Florida when the area was experiencing a rapid growth period. During this “boom time”, GATES quickly gained a reputation for quality construction and exceeding clients’ expectations. The company is led by Todd Gates, a longtime Gulfshore Playhouse supporter and philanthropist.

Gilbane Building Company | CM PRECON National

Gilbane Building Company provides global integrated construction and facility management services. A family-owned organization with 150 years of experience and counting, Gilbane has built a reputation of trust, delivering safe, quality projects that stand the test of time.

HLB | Architectural Lighting

HLB Lighting Design is the largest independent architectural lighting design firm in North America. Specializing in creating highly advanced and experiential lighting environments in 16 market sectors across the globe, HLB aims to design quality lighting systems that complement both interior and exterior spaces while using favorable products that endure.

The Hospitality House | Food Service

Hospitality House provides Foodservice Planning and Design services to a variety of sectors ranging from Hotels and Restaurants to Educational Facilities and Healthcare Institutions. Our specialized understanding of business objectives, concept feasibility, labor costs, technical principles, along with a multitude of other details provides our clients with a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to each project. Its experts work alongside architects and project managers to provide a complete suite of Foodservice Design services to support any project from construction through opening.

IC Thomasson | MEP/FP Engineers

IC Thomasson Associates, Inc. (ICT) is an employee-owned, multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm providing expertise in mechanical, electrical, controls, plumbing, fire protection, information technology, energy efficiency, and environmental services. Its skilled design professionals work as part of an integrated process to provide high-performing building systems that promote health, safety, and value.

JaffeHolden Acoustics | Acoustics and Audio-Visual

For more than 50 years, JaffeHolden Acoustics has honed its understanding of the unique acoustic and audio/video requirements of spaces into solutions for both architects and organizations. Its work has led to acoustic design value to some of the world’s most iconic facilities, including the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Juilliard School, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, the Kennedy Center, The Academy Awards Museum and the Tokyo International Forum. They are currently working with Gulfshore Playhouse to ensure each space is finely tuned and superbly sound.

Stantec | Civil/Transportation Engineer

Stantec is a recognized global leader in architecture, design, and engineering, ranked among the top 10 architecture firms by Architectural Record and top 10 global design firms by Engineering News-Record. The firm has designed numerous prominent projects throughout Florida, including Solitair Brickell, YotelPAD Miami, Luma at Miami Worldcenter, Yard 8 in Midtown Miami, Wynwood Square, MiMo Bay Apartments, 17 West in Miami Beach and Avalon Doral. The company’s project work for the new building is led by Principal Tim Hancock, whose experience includes site design and rezoning for a wide variety of projects, as well as Ray Piacente, the Site Civil Project Manager overseeing land surveys, structural engineering and infrastructure plans.

Thornton Tomasetti | Civil/Transportation Engineer

Thornton Tomasetti optimizes the design and performance of structures, materials and systems for projects of every size and level of complexity. An independent organization of engineers, scientists, architects and other professionals who collaborate from offices worldwide to help achieve client goals, Thornton Tomasetti is committed to being a sustainable, diverse and enduring organization and the global driver of change and innovation in our industry. Brad Malmsten is leading the Gulfshore Playhouse structural engineering team, applying his expertise and in-depth technical knowledge of building behaviors, construction methods, various forms of structural analysis and the delivery of structural designs to the new building.

Velocity Engineering | Geotechnical

Velocity combines extensive in-house experience with an elite team of subconsultants and subcontractors to provide a wide range of services supporting an array of facilities – airports, educational institutions, stadiums, hospitals, parking garages, industrial spaces, hotels, residential associations, and commercial projects.