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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.

1961 - The Weaver Residence, Longboat Key, Sarasota FL. Designed with William Zimmerman. Status unknown.





1966 - Plymouth Harbor Retirement Community, 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.



1969 - Sandy Cove Condos, designed with with James Holliday and James Durden. Won a 1970 AIA Florida Award.



1970 - The Terrace Condos, Siesta Key, Sarasota FL.



1983 - The McGuffey Hill Condos, Charlottesville VA. Designed with Carl Landow.

1990 - The Frank and Anne Smith Remodel, aka Ventana, 900 Alameda, Indian Beach, Sarasota FL. Original house 1894. Named for the Ventana Inn in Big Sur CA. Video. Sold in 2023 to Michael Peterman.

Sources include: Christopher Wilson, Sarasota Magazine, Architecture Sarasota, Test of Time by Frank Folsom Smith.