Players Centre close to selecting architect for Waterside project

Michelle Bianchi Pingel, the managing director and CEO of The Players Centre for Performing Arts, said on Friday her facilities committee has narrowed the field to three architects to design the complex that will be the centerpiece of the new Waterside at Lakewood Ranch town center.

The Sarasota pairing of SchenkelShultz Architecture and Westlake Reed Leskowsky Architects form one group. The West Palm Beach firm, Designel, was the second choice. Rounding out the field was the pairing of Fort Myers' R G Architects and Pfeiffer Partners Architects.

Bianchi Pingel said a numbered metric scoring system narrowed the field from 11.

The next round of interviews is scheduled for Aug. 24-26 in Lakewood Ranch. The Players' board meeting on Aug. 31 should decide the winner.

Three Lakewood Ranch builders, Willis A. Smith Construction, Tandem Construction and Gilbane have been invited to interviews for the project.

Bianchi Pingel said The Players hopes to host a meet the architect and builder on Sept. 23 with plans for the site and time still being formulated.