Not your average general contractor, Firmo’s tight-knit team’s keen eye for regional potential and community engagement opportunities has evolved their industry expertise to encompass a unique design-build approach—collaboratively executing both the design process and construction phases under a single contract. From finding a property or space, to helping get permits from the City, get financing through a bank, and finding a compatible architect, Firmo’s versatility provides project management services from inception to completion. This streamlined approach not only helps align the many moving parts of a project for clients, but fosters collaboration and teamwork, mitigates change orders and blame shifting, fosters a timely turnaround, optimizes project quality and ensures cost effectiveness. From discussion of initial concept, to day one breaking ground, all the way to the ribbon-cutting reveal, “It’s not just construction,” says Stefan Baron, Firmo’s director of business development. “It’s a collaboration.” The seven visionaries behind the boutique-operated firm continue to pioneer sustainable building methods—acquiring credibilities such as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Energy Star certifications. Firmo became a leading member and early adopter of US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system. Even when the program was still in its infancy, the Firmo team built the first LEED CS Silver Office building in Sarasota, continually striving to leave the environment in better quality than they found it.
Eric Collin, President of Firmo Construction.
HOMEWOOD SUITES BY HILTON After working closely with the Hilton Hospitality Group, Firmo retrofitted a building that sat abandoned near the corner of Fruitville and Beneva Road for seven years. Instead of tearing down the existing structure, originally designed to be a retirement center, the building was modified and repurposed to become a useable space, great for tourism. The Homewood Suites by Hilton 100room hotel remains an exemplar of sustainable, mindful efforts by Firmo. The team took considerable measures to minimize the renovation’s impact on landfills and the surrounding environment. Additionally, the firm regularly integrates sustainable materials that incorporate environmentally-friendly paradigms, guaranteeing longevity into their projects. As one of the early pioneers of the LEED program in the U.S. Southeast, Firmo maintains a commitment to seek LEED certification whenever possible. Once completed, the Homewood Suites hotel was recognized as an adaptive reuse project with a Hilton Conversion of the Year award, a Sarasota County Beautification Award and GE Capital Hotel Development Award. And beyond the accolades, Firmo’s renovation inspired others, and promoted further revitalization throughout the immediate area. The Sarasota Modern Shopping Center has since been built beside the hotel, in addition to other infrastructure and landscaping improvements made to the surrounding region. “Developers invest if they can be next to a nicer building,” explains Firmo Construction President, Eric Collin. “Once we got the hotel cleaned up, it really incentivized other owners to do something with their property.”
Homewood Suites | After
Homewood Suites | Before
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