Finish tower nears completion in Sarasota

Standing on the top floor observation deck of Nathan Benderson Park's new finish tower, Bob Sullivan looked into the distance, the tallest buildings of downtown Sarasota lining the horizon while the Radcliffe crew team practiced far below on the water.

"We are only limited by our imagination," said Sullivan, the president of  Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, the nonprofit created to manage Nathan Benderson Park.

The finish tower still is about eight weeks from completion with mostly windows to be installed and cosmetic work left to be accomplished. Once the windows are in place, the scaffolding which lines the structure will be removed.

In terms of timing, the finish tower will be completed in plenty of time to play a key role in the 2017 World Rowing Championships, which will be hosted by Nathan Benderson Park Sept. 24 through Oct. 1.

The lack of a proper finish tower would have been a deal breaker for the World Rowing Championships, but a much smaller facility would have fit the bill for that event.  SANCA executives wanted to have more than a facility which only would serve one purpose.

"We definitely didn't want to build a white elephant," said Bob Whitford, the director of facilities and operations for SANCA. "We wanted to create something iconic to the park."

Whitford, who has been involved in rowing in one role or another most of his life, left California in February of 2011 for a job with SANCA because the organization had huge dreams for Nathan Benderson Park. The promise was not only to build one of the top rowing facilities in America, but the world.

Along with that goal, the property was, indeed, a park. SANCA wanted to serve local residents in a myriad of ways.

The finish tower will host SANCA offices, house officials during athletic events and provide VIP viewing points and observation decks during events. However, it will have conference rooms that can be rented by any organization needing a special space.

Hosting a wedding rehearsal dinners? How about renting a floor with spectacular views?

"This was a finishing element to the park," Sullivan said. "The finish tower will be identified with the park itself. And diversification is something we strive for. We want to get people use to coming here. We have a blank slate now. We see the potential of what we can do."

Last week, Whitford and Sullivan led a tour of the building, starting with the open breezeway feature of the first floor that will allow spectators — VIP or otherwise — to have a clear view of any activities on the lake which staying out of the sun or rain. The floor will include a glass alcove.

The second floor will have a multi-purpose room and reception area that will spill out to an open deck. It could be a viewing area for VIPs or sponsors or could be renting by a group wanting to host a reception.

Another floor up is a conference room along with the area where officials will be able to judge any event taking place on or around the lake. It's kind of a command and control area.

The SANCA offices will be on the fourth floor along with space for any broadcast team covering an event. On the fifth floor will be another balcony and reception area along with meeting rooms. It is the highest floor with a ceiling, and provides the best views for someone wanted to host a special gathering. There is an area that will hold "sky boxes" as well.

The top floor, or observation deck, is about 90 feet above the ground. It will have a glass rail all around and offer a great vantage point.

Whitford and Sullivan said one of the best features is that the finish tower will make Nathan Benderson Park a place where an event could walk on the property and everything needed would be available. "Everything will be ready on a turnkey basis," Whitford said.

With the finish tower complete, Whitford said Nathan Benderson Park will be known worldwide.

"You see beautiful arenas and natatoriums," Whitford said. "Athletes want to be rewarded for their effort. Well, this is it. Whether it's a regional or a world championship, or a high school event, they all are coming to our place. We are not remote and we have the hotels and restaurants. We have regional and international airports and world class beaches."

Whitford said the only finish tower in the United States that can compare is the Chesapeake Energy Finish Line Tower in Oklahoma City. "We're bigger and more functional. We can use this building on a daily basis."

Sullivan agrees. "This gets us to a new level," he said. "This is where you want to be. This is the Yankee Stadium. We are setting a standard for the rest of the country to follow."

If more events, whether rowing, kayaking, canoeing, running or triathlons, come to Nathan Benderson Park, the SANCA staff might have to get creative. Whitfield said they might consider hosting more events during the weekdays.

"We have a finite amount of dates," he said. "We may create a different paradigm."