Tampa Bay’s largest locally-owned commercial construction firm has built a new corporate headquarters for themselves. After 40 years in downtown Clearwater, the company has moved into a newly-constructed 14,200 sq. ft. building on 5-1/2 acres in east Clearwater. The design is contemporary, yet evokes Florida vernacular architecture. Architect Ed Hoffman, Jr., AIA (WJArchitects / Hoffman Studio, Tarpon Springs) was the designer. “The heavily-wooded hidden site was a perfect fit for Ed’s sensitivity to Florida’s nature,” said Josh Bomstein, President of Creative.
The site is off of Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, 0.5 miles from the Bayside Bridge. “This more central site brings us closer to the transportation network and the major highways in the area enhancing our access to our projects which are concentrated in Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, and Manatee counties, in addition to Pinellas County,” added Josh Bomstein.
Paying homage to their industry, the building exhibits the art of structure, and as such, every piece of structural steel is exposed and painted white. Not a single column was buried in the walls but rather was emphasized as a design element. Some of the glass rises 28 ft. high, bringing copious amounts of natural light and outdoor vistas into the building.
Several of the invasive species of trees on the land that had to be removed (by code) were harvested and made into furniture for the building. The boardroom features a 15 ft. long conference table made from Monkey Pod, which is the wood of an Ear Tree. Its brilliant red, brown, and gold colorations make for a unique table. A divider piece and a coffee table were also made from harvested trees.
“The building was intended from day one to be team member-centric,” stated Alan Bomstein, Founder and CEO. “Creating an environment that was pleasant to come to each day was paramount in our objectives. The breakroom had to be large and bright and fun. It is! It features three indoor seating options, plus a furnished covered patio with a view of our herb garden and our disc golf mini-course. Every team member parking space is covered, and we have provided four EV charging stations for electric vehicles,” he added. These elements and many others contribute to the Fitwel (https://www.fitwel.org/) Certification being sought for the project. Fitwel recognizes buildings that are designed, built, and operated to maximize the health and wellness of the building’s users.
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Creative is celebrating its 48th year in business in 2022. The firm’s clients are mostly institutional, with a concentration in schools, health care, municipal, recreational, and cultural projects. Their portfolio includes many notable projects at Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, University of South Florida, Saint Leo University, Lakeland Regional Health, School Districts of Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, and Manatee Counties, and many other esteemed institutions.