Tallahassee – Sustainability and resilience are critical issues facing Florida’s communities. To highlight those important issues, the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Florida) will focus the 2021 Peoples Choice Competition on 10 buildings in the state that were built for one purpose but have been reimagined, often multiple times, for another.

“These buildings showcase transformation and adaptability across Florida’s built environment,” said AIA Florida President Igancio J. Reyes, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP. “AIA Florida is proud to showcase these creative examples of adaptive reuse.”

The list includes a variety of historical civic structures from Tampa’s enormous Armature Works to a repurposed 1950s gas station in West Palm Beach.

The finalists in the competition are:

• The Historic Hampton House, Miami.

• The Collaboratory, Fort Myers.

• The Lincoln Theatre, Miami Beach.

• The Edison, Tallahassee.

• The Coral Gables Museum, Coral Gables.

• Lynora’s Market and Deli, West Palm Beach.

• The Sunset Lounge, West Palm Beach.

• Grandview Public Market, West Palm Beach.

• Armature Works, Tampa.

• Hotel Haya, Tampa.

The Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach, otherwise known as the Pink Palace, won last year’s competition on historic hotels. Designed to engage the public in discussions about architecture, the People’s Choice Competition is held annually by AIA Florida and the Florida Foundation for Architecture and has generated more than 12 million votes since its inception in 2012.

Vote online at floridapeopleschoice.org.

The Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects, headquartered in Tallahassee, represents the interests of more than 3,600 members in Florida and the Caribbean. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct that assures the client, the public and colleagues of an AIA member architect’s dedication to the highest standards in professional practice.

The Florida Foundation for Architecture is a nonprofit organization that exists to advocate the value of architecture to audiences beyond the profession. This is accomplished through Foundation events, publications and grants for programs that feature architecture and are open and available to the general public and related professions, as well as architects.