The Gulf of Mexico presented Pinar Harris and her team at 10SB (previously SB Architects) with a beautiful canvas to incorporate into the plans of St. Regis Longboat Key in Sarasota, Florida. The challenge was maximizing the impact of the picturesque setting into the design blueprint on the expansive 18-acre beachfront property.

The property, which opened in August, features a five-star hotel with 168 guestrooms and three six-story buildings with 69 residences. It is the largest development on the island in more than 50 years.

Construction on the $800 million project began in 2021 and the development offers the height of luxury: four full-service restaurants, a saltwater lagoon with live fish and sea life, spa, bar overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and business meeting facilities among the many amenities.

The overarching objective throughout the design was to celebrate the pristine waters of the Gulf of Mexico in every aspect of the resort. “Florida landscape is very lush, so our goal is to make sure residents and guests don’t feel they are in this concrete built environment, but a more seamless exterior environment that marries the landscape with the architecture,’’ Harris says. “We wanted to create a moment of celebration and connection to the ocean from anywhere you are placed on the property.”

The highly anticipated project — “residences on the amenity-rich property are expected to drive Sarasota’s burgeoning condominium market to even greater heights” the Florida Times-Union reported in 2018 – adds another chapter to a site that has a fascinating history on the state’s West Coast. “This destination resort is a testament to our commitment to creating unparalleled luxury experiences,” Chuck Whittall, President of Unicorp National Developments Inc., said upon the completion of the project.

Out With the Old

The history of Longboat Key as a resort destination revolves around Herb Field and Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber. Field founded The Colony Beach Resort on Longboat Key in 1952, even clearing the road himself to construct cottages along the beachfront paradise. In 1968, Field found an investor in Klauber, an orthodontist from New York, to further develop the area. Klauber brought fresh ideas and new energy to the resort, and in 1977 partnered with tennis guru Nick Bollettieri.

The academy became the top tennis resort in America. Bollettieri, who coached tennis legends Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova and sisters Venus and Serena Williams, among others, helped the resort become an internationally acclaimed tennis facility.

The Colony hosted U.S. Presidents, world dignitaries, elite athletes and television and movie celebrities. Tourism boomed and The Colony thrived under the guidance of Klauber, who developed the first “timeshare” condominium concept on Longboat Key.

Over time, legal issues arose between the condo association and Klauber, who ran the resort with his daughter, Katherine. By 2004, The Colony needed nearly $12 million in renovations. The homeowners balked at the hefty renovation costs, and after several years of litigation, The Colony closed in 2010.

“This is taking one of the strongest international magnets we have and letting it literally crumble,’’ Virginia Haley, President of the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau, told The Sarasota Herald-Tribune at the time. “A lot of people know us internationally from this property. Now, it’s taken out of the mix and it’s uncertain whether it can or will reopen or not.”

The resort was demolished in 2018, and even before construction began, half of the new condos were sold with prices ranging from $2 million to $20 million. The project officially broke ground in 2021, ushering in the beginning of a new era for the resort.

Meeting a High Bar

The residences at St. Regis Longboat Key needed to meet a high bar, and 10SB delivered. The floorplans range from 1,553 to 5,895 square feet and include 1- to -4 bedrooms. The residences include private elevator access to every residence, technology-ready infrastructure for owner-customized home automation, soaring ceilings and living spaces for scenic gulf vistas, abundant natural light with floor-to-ceiling glass, wet bar with ice maker and beverage center and custom-configured European cabinetry in the owner’s suite.

The kitchens are equipped with high-end appliances, a Chef’s pantry, a combination of quartz and marble countertops, and single bowl, stainless steel kitchen sinks. Bathrooms include frameless walk-in showers, large soaking tubs and contemporary-style plumbing fixtures. Exterior features include expansive outdoor living spaces with glass railings for seamless views, porcelain tile flooring on all outdoor terraces, and summer kitchens.

The residences are spaced across three buildings—Armand, Bateau and Champagne—and homeowners have their own clubhouse and wellness center. Each unit also has its own garage and gated access provides privacy. In all, the resort spans across 1.1 million square feet. “From the hospitality standpoint, it wasn’t that hard,’’ Harris says. “But the building typology is completely different from a lot of other projects.”

Harris says multiple teams evaluated and designed the resort and had to account for the coastal nature of the property and concerns with surrounding communities. “We had to respect the neighbors and the neighboring properties to make sure we weren’t blocking their views. This is one of the biggest built properties in Longboat Key in the last decade, so we wanted to have the utmost sensitivity and respect for the existing residents.”

Devising a plan for parking for the resort was one of the challenges, along with marrying the plans for the resort community with the residences. “We wanted to separate the public portion of the property, with the hotel, guest rooms, and public functions away from the residences,” Harris says. “They’re looking for privacy and security. Our client had a solid vision from the beginning. We’ve been working on this since 2016, it’s been a lengthy process, and one that feels so satisfying to see complete.”

Remarkable Water Features

One notable feature of the resort is the elaborate use of pools, spas and other water-related features. A meandering stream and a saltwater lagoon sit between the residences and the hotel. There is a separate pool for hotel guests and a pool and spa for residential owners. Harris said there are more than 60 water features on the property.

“We have an aquarium within the property to make sure we are supporting the live fish program that is part of the saltwater lagoon,’’ Harris says. “It’s critical that we have the right pH levels to make sure we are providing the optimum environment for the fish. We had a very robust team as an architectural design firm to keep up with the coordination of all the elements that went into the property.”

Water features were even included in some of the private residences. Private, infinity-edge plunge pools were incorporated in 26 of the most exclusive homes. Terrazzo doors from BILCO, the manufacturer of specialty access products, allow for access to mechanical equipment for the pools.

Harris says the pools are on deck areas near the front of the residence and are one of the first things visitors notice when they enter the home. “We went with the BILCO hatch because it has an inlay option where you can have a paver or tile placed on top of it. We can make that hatch disappear as much as you can within the deck. We wanted to have the functionality that we could access these spaces that are below the floor, but at the same time, we didn’t want them to be eye sores. As an architect, I know they are there, but it’s not something people will be looking at.”

BILCO’s terrazzo doors can be used with an assortment of architectural materials and are engineered with lift assistance for easy, one-hand operation. They are constructed with corrosion-resistant materials to provide years of dependable service. FG Building Products of Florida, BILCO’s manufacturer’s representative, provided the doors which were installed by Reinforced Structures of St. Petersburg.

“The corrosion resistance and availability of the product made them a good choice for this project,’’ says Nassim Habib of Reinforced Structures. “They used a nice finish, and the project came out very nice.”

Moss served as the general contractor for the project. Enea Landscape Architecture, RSM Design, Hirsch Bedner Associates and Marc-Michaels Interior Design also worked on the design team.

Ever since Murf Klauber’s dream for the resort collapsed in 2010, the community wondered and waited with anticipation. The result is everything Harris and her team hoped it would be. “Occasions like this allow us to reflect on our remarkable journey together, transforming our collective vision into a stunning reality,” Harris says. “What once existed only as an idea has become a memorable experience for all to enjoy.”

Thomas Renner writes on building, construction and other trade industry topics for publications throughout the US.

St. Regis Longboat Key at a glance

St. Regis Longboat Key in Sarasota is a mixed-use project that includes a 5-star hotel with 168 guestrooms and three residential buildings with 69 condominiums. 10SB (previously SB Architects) designed the project for Unicorp National Developments.

• More details: Construction on the $800 million project began in 2021 and opened in August 2024. In all, the project spans 1.1 million square feet and includes four full-service restaurants, a spa and business meeting facilities.
• Water features: The complex features a saltwater lagoon, separate pools for the hotel and residences, and infinity-edge pools for some of the most exclusive residences. More than 60 water features are included in the project.
• Pool equipment access: Terrazzo doors manufactured by BILCO allow access to mechanical equipment. The doors can be used with a variety of architectural materials, are corrosion-resistant and are manufactured with lift assistance for easy, one-hand operation.
• Did you know? St. Regis Longboat Key replaces The Colony Beach Resort, which closed in 2010 and became a popular tennis resort and training academy under Nick Bollettieri, who mentored several tennis superstars.