ELEVATE Magazine - RASM - July 2022 Issue

Open for Business: The Long-Awaited Arrival of RASM North

RASM is proud and excited to announce that the highly anticipated RASM North office is now in the final stages of completion and scheduled for a soft opening in July, with a Grand Opening celebration to follow on August 5. This facility and the extraordinary work involved in making it a reality, is the embodiment of RASM’s long-term commitment and dedication to members in Manatee County.

In May 2020, RASM purchased an office building that was being used by CenterState Bank located at 2901 Manatee Ave. West in Bradenton and began the process of making massive renovations, working with Suarez Architecture and Halfacre Construction Company. Construction and design plans completely transformed the building from an aged, out-of-date office building, into a fresh, modern, first-class facility. In addition to the existing facility on Cattlemen Road in Sarasota, the building is the second, full-sized RASM member facility, serving Realtors® and the local community. Ironically this building was the former Manatee Association of REALTORS® building, so in a sense, the Realtors® are coming home.

RENOVATIONS

The renovations were extensive and included a full demolition of the building interior, completely transforming the building into a first-class facility. Non-structural walls were cleared, and structural walls added in order to raise the roof and ceilings, creating a more open floor plan, and increasing the overall functionality for the Association. Updates include totally new plumbing, all new electrical and HVAC components, and the rearranging of interior walls and office spaces. Interior Designer Ana Santa Maria of Apex-Studio Santa Maria was charged with designing and specifying the interiors. This included new high-end porcelain tiles and carpet tile flooring throughout. Beautiful quartz countertops were installed throughout. Sophisticated fixtures and ceiling details were added to the conference rooms, along with totally new restroom and kitchen facilities and all new furnishings.

“With the beauty created by the architecture, it was important to have cohesiveness from the exterior to the interior,” said Ana Santa Maria, Principal, Apex-Studio Santa Maria. “For this reason, the clean lines, the color palette used throughout, and the simple furniture lines were incorporated into the interior design.”

Exterior modifications include a new façade including parapets and stucco, a new storefront, doors and windows, fresh paint, expanded and repaved parking, and drought-tolerant, sustainable landscaping.

“Suarez Architecture was tasked with creating an iconic building that represents the forward movement that is embodied in the spirit of RASM,” said Javi Suarez, Principal, Suarez Architecture. “This completely remodeled building at 2901 Manatee Avenue West has been converted to include a new double-winged auditorium space, conference rooms, member store, a central lobby, and offices for the RASM North headquarters. In the initial plans, Suarez Architecture aimed to carry some of the sloped forms of the RASM South office in Sarasota to create a continuum between both properties. However, the different buildings required unique treatment.

The architectural language of the North office is that of a new shade of modern, one which brings cleaner lines (horizontal throughout the facade), warmer textures through the use of composite siding, and color through the use of a series of different shades of blue,” said Suarez.

“This renovation is more like a new build,” said David Clapp, Chair of the North Building Renovation Task Force, 2020 RASM President, and Managing Broker for RE/MAX Alliance Group. “After the demo, there were basically 3 exterior walls and a small section of the roof. We decided to raise the roof so we could have a high-volume ceiling for the auditorium and the grand hall. Most everything is new; the roof, plumbing, electric, interior surfaces, walls, windows, doors, floor, etc. We have always been committed to creating a first-class facility for our northern members, and this newly renovated building accomplishes that in spades. I couldn’t be prouder of what we have created in a facility which will serve us well for many years to come.”

ORIGINAL PLANS

Plans for the new office have evolved over the years due to many factors. After the merger of the Manatee Association of REALTORS® and the Sarasota Association of REALTORS® in 2015, RASM’s leadership team began investigating opportunities for a new member facility in Manatee County. In 2017, RASM sold the former North building located in Lakewood Ranch, with plans to build an office located in the heart of Manatee.

In 2018, the Association purchased land on 3rd Avenue West in Bradenton with plans to build a new facility. However, after several challenges were presented in the process of building on the property, it became clear to RASM leaders that a more costeffective plan would better serve the goals of the Association and its members. Rather than build new, RASM decided to renovate the 2901 Manatee Avenue property and transform it into the beautiful service center that we have now.

“The shift from building on the land we purchased happened because the costs of new construction were going up at such a fast pace that we felt we would be grossly over budget. So, we started looking to see what existing buildings were available that we could renovate to meet our needs. To our amazement, what was years ago, the old Manatee Association of REALTORS® building came up for sale, and we went under contract to purchase it from the bank that owned it. We are now under contract to sell the land we purchased, closing on it at a profit,” added Clapp.

UNIQUE HISTORY

The location of the new RASM North office has a unique history. Prior to 2007, before serving as an office facility for CenterState Bank, the building was the main member facility of the Manatee Association of REALTORS® (MAR). Around that time, MAR relocated to Lakewood Ranch and sold the building to CenterState Bank to be used as an operation center.

“It is very special to have this fantastic facility opening this year on Manatee Avenue in Manatee County as we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of RASM through the founding year of the Manatee Association of REALTORS®, and the connection to the original building makes it even more special,” said Tony Veldkamp, 2022 RASM President, and a Senior Advisor at SVN Commercial Advisory Group.

COMMITMENT TO OUR MEMBERS

The new building is symbolic of a promise kept to our members.

“The new RASM North facility fulfills RASM’s commitment to our members to have a top quality, beautiful facility that is in a convenient location for our Manatee County residents,” said Veldkamp. “This provides convenience for them so that they can continue to be active in RASM, and RASM can be an important part of their success as a Realtor®.”

The Association has been diligent with resources and planning, providing the best location and conveniences for all members.

“One of the most important functions of the Association is to enhance the professionalism of our members by providing educational opportunities for members to build their knowledge and skills,” said Jeff Arakelian, RASM CEO. “RASM North includes a modern meeting and educational conference center. Our auditorium has a state-of-the-art audio-visual system to support our educational programs. We will offer classes such as New Member Orientation, Code of Ethics, various contracts classes, as well as networking functions. Once we have a handle on the overall demand, we will be able to scale up as needed. We are looking forward to welcoming our members to the RASM North and celebrating at our Grand Opening.”

CONVENIENT LOCATION

We live in a society where many meetings can be handled virtually, so now more than ever, location and convenience are key.

“Travel times, particularly during ‘season,’ can be a deterrent to a member attending a class or event at the South location in Sarasota,” said Veldkamp. “These classes and events can be very important for their success in the real estate profession, and we make every effort to deliver top-quality classes, events, and services in locations that are easier for our members to access. Furthermore, this is a beautiful, first-class facility that will also be available to the public to rent for events. This helps increase our presence and visibility in the community.”

“RASM North is intended to be a member service facility providing education, meetings, events, REALTOR® Store products, membership information, and member application submission location,” said Arakelian. “In another sense, the new facility, especially for our longtime members, means an association presence, an identity, and a home.”

APPRECIATION

RASM’s commitment to our members means many things. In part, it means that RASM leadership is willing to do the hard work, put in the countless hours, and do the behind-the-scenes work that might go unnoticed by many to get the job done correctly, and in the best possible way for its members.

“In the early days, it was meeting to develop the plans, which were revised many times,” said Clapp. “Since the construction began, we met on site every other week to stay on top of the construction progress. There have been many decisions that have had to be made and a countless number of phone calls, emails, and meetings along the way to make this all come together.”

RASM would like to extend a special thanks to Roger Piro, Craig Copeman, Tony Veldkamp, David Clapp as Chair, and Jeff Arakelian as Staff Liaison for their hard work and dedication to making the new RASM North a reality. In addition, RASM sincerely thanks its many members for their support of the Association, their patience, and for placing their trust in RASM leadership to establish the best facility possible to serve our members.

Please join us for the official Grand Opening Celebration on August 5, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., to celebrate the new office in Manatee County! The event will feature a ribbon-cutting with the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, connections with local dignitaries in Manatee County, and light bites to celebrate the opening of this state-of-the-art facility. We hope that you are able to join us! Be sure to RSVP to save your spot.

https://myrasmportal.ramcoams.net/Meetings/Registration/MeetingDetails.aspx?mid=aa0ca23a-e6ec-ec11-9c74-00155d101222