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FRANK FOLSOM SMITH (1931-2025)
Born in Philadelphia, Smith's family moved to
Virginia in 1932. He attended VPI 1947-1949 and graduated in Economics from UVA in 1952. In 1954, he was enrolled in the Architecture school at UVA, leaving in 1957 for Sarasota FL to work for Victor Lundy and worked on Warm Mineral Springs Motel in North Port, a landmark of midcentury modernism. In 1958 for Ralph and William Zimmerman. He returned to UVA in 1959 and graduated. then moved back to Sarasota to work for the Zimmermans until 1961 when he set up his own firm. He was a frequent guest in the 1960's at Esalen, sharing spiritual insights and hot tubs with New Age gurus and celebrities. In 1976, he opened a branch office in Charlottesville VA. In the 1980s, Smith acquired and rehabilitated over 20 downtown Sarasota buildings from the 1920s, several of which achieved listing on the National Register of Historic Places and became known as the “Burns Court Historic District. Smith’s Conrad Beach development, a 27-home infill neighborhood on Longboat Key, was cited as the “Community Development of the Year” by Coastal Living Magazine in 2001. Smith speaking in 2019.
1959 - The Mr. and Mrs. Eldon (Wanda) Weaver House, 6021 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key FL. Designed with William Zimmerman. Home designed originally in 2 pods, living and studio, a 3rd pod was added 10 years later as a master suite. Wanda passed in 1985 and the house was sold to George and Margaret Knutsson, who did massive renovations. They turned the former studio pod into a master suite, moved an original fireplace into the bedroom, and updated kitchen. Article says the house was "rebuilt and enlarged" For sale in 1991. Sold c2013 and destroyed. A new 7100 sf home was built a few years later. Last three B/W photos from 1988 remodel.
1962 - The Robert Beehler House, 5030 Commonwealth Drive, Siesta Key, Sarasota FL. Referred to as "Florida Cracker Flavor," the couple lived on the upper floor while the first floor bed and bath that opened onto a screened porch roofed by the upper deck was designed for their adult daughter. For sale for the first time in 1973. Sold to Arthur Brereton in the 1980s. On the market off and on throughout the early 2000's. Sold in 2020 to Leonard Gordon. Destroyed in 2024.
1963 - Golden Gate Point, 360 Golden Gate Point, Sarasota FL.Status unknown.
1965 - The Sou and Viola Chan Vacation Home, Nokomis FL. Sold in 1969 to Paul Bertorello.
1966 - Plymouth Harbor Retirement Community,
700 John Ringling Boulelvard.,
Sarasota FL. Designed with Louis Schneider. 16 acres. It was the largest building in Sarasota at the time. Won the AIA Test of Time Award in 1991. Structural engineer, William McGraw; mechanical, Emil Tiona; civil engineers, Smalley Wellford Nalven; interiors, Terry L. Rowe; built by Robert Chuckrow Construction.
1967 - The Albert Callender House, 124 Sandy Hook Road North., Siesta Key, Sarasota FL. Sold in 2009 to Stephen Lambert. The Callenders owned the home at least until 1986 as Mrs. Callender passed away at the house.
1969 - Sandy Cove Condos, 22 Sandy Cove Road, Sarasota FL (Primary street address). Designed with with James Holliday and James Durden. Won a 1970 AIA Florida Award. Smith and his wife lived in a unit at 33 Sandy Cove Road.
1969 - The Palm Bay Club, 5960 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota FL.
1970 - The Terrace Condos, aka Terrace East, 5400 Ocean Boulevard., Siesta Key, Sarasota FL. 17 stories, 69 units.
1973 - The Wategate Apartments and Yacht Club, 2731 - 2801 Taft Street, Hollywood FL. Construction began in 1970.
1973 - The Banyon Bay Condominiums, 5250 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key FL. 44 - 2 bd/2ba condominiums.
1973 - Pine Run Development, 300 Blackburn Point Road, Sarasota FL. 147 unit condominium complex. Built in three stages, first was by Smith, other two based on his concept but built by others.
1982 - Strawberry Hill Condominium Project, Ringling Blvd and S. Palm, Sarasota FL. In 1986 a new hotel proposal was planned. There was a legal battle due to a connection with a developer who abandoned several projects, and the land was put up for bid by the bank in August 1989. Unbuilt.
1983 - The
McGuffey Hill Condominiums,
201-211
and 301-311 2nd Street, Charlottesville VA. In
c2014 Frank Folsom Smith and wife Anne purchased one of the
condo's and remodeled it as a their "home away from home."
Photos by Virginia Hamrick.
1989 - The Oaks Preserve, Osprey FL. 50 garden homes. Wife Anne was interior designer of the four models as well as design consultant for development.
late 1980's - The Frank and Anne Folsom Smith Renovation, 900 Alameda Lane, Sarasota FL. Original build 1894. The Smith's found this home and did a major renovation c1987. Sold in 2023 to Michael Peterman.
1990 - The Frank and Anne Smith Remodel, aka Ventana, 900 Indian Beach Drive Road, Sarasota FL. Original house 1894. Named for the Ventana Inn in Big Sur CA. Video. Sold in 2023 to Michael Peterman.
Mid 1990's - The Goldman House Addition, aka "Etowah," 4511 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota FL. Original 1925 home. Master bedroom, bath addition. Sold in 2023 to William Johnson.
1990 - Oaks Preserve Development, Sarasota FL. Example: 156 Bishops Court Road, Osprey FL.. Exclusive development with many houses, a club, tennis courts, etc. Smith was only one of several architects who designed homes for the development. A second home of Smith's in the development is house #2 at 108 Bishops Court, built in 1989. Sold in 2013 to Ivo Travnicek. Sold in 2021 to Susan Jayne MacDonald.
2000 - Conrad Beach Development, Longboat Key FL. 27 traditional Southern Coastal homes, 3 and 4 bedroom. Built by Tandem Construction with interior design by Anne Folsom Smith. The original restaurant on site, L'auberge, was to be remodeled into a home. First model up was the Seabreeze Model at 7030 Firehouse Road, 2,630 sf. (Photos) Named Community Development of the Year by Coastal Living Magazine in 2001.
Sources include: Christopher Wilson, Sarasota Magazine, Architecture Sarasota, Test of Time by Frank Folsom Smith.