MOD Weekend 2025

November 14-16, 2025

MODERNS THAT MATTER

Join Us for the 12th Annual Sarasota MOD Weekend — November 14–16, 2025!

This year, we shine a spotlight on Moderns That Matter, a curated collection of iconic landmarks and everyday spaces that define Sarasota’s unique architectural identity and vibrant sense of place.

With insights from community members and local design champions, we have compiled the Sarasota 100: a century-spanning list of notable structures and sites, organized across 10 use categories. This thoughtful inventory showcases 100 years of architectural excellence and celebrates Sarasota’s role as a global epicenter of design innovation.

Throughout MOD Weekend, many of these standout locations will welcome visitors with tours and special programming, offering a rare opportunity to experience Sarasota’s built heritage up close.

MOD Weekend 2025 Presenting Sponsor

MOD Weekend 2025 Sponsors

Thank you to this year’s MOD 2025 Weekend Collaborator

the bay

Friday, November 14

Moderns That Matter: The Bay Architecture Tour

10am-12pm

The Blue Pagoda, 655 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236


Opening Party: Cocktails Under the Umbrella

5-8pm

Umbrella House, 1300 Westway Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236

Saturday, November 15

Moderns That Matter: Symposium

9:30-11:30am

Ringling College of Art + Design Auditorium

Larry Thompson Academic Center

2415 Bradenton Road, Sarasota, FL 34234


Self-Guided Driving Tour

12-4pm

Begin at any house on the tour starting at 12pm.

Box Lunch and Guided Shuttle Tour

12-4pm

Ringling College of Art + Design Auditorium

Larry Thompson Academic Center

2415 Bradenton Road, Sarasota, FL 34234

Tour departs and returns to Ringling College of Art + Design Auditorium.

Sunday, November 16

Moderns That Matter: Sarasota 100 Tour by Water

10am-12pm

LeBarge Tropical Cruises, 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL 34236


Open House at McCulloch Pavilion

12-4pm

McCulloch Pavilion, 265 S Orange Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236

Friday, November 14, 2025

Moderns That Matter: The Bay Architecture Tour

Architecture Sarasota President Marty Hylton leads this insider tour of the Cultural District of The Bay park, which includes a series of landmark buildings that represent the history of Sarasota’s 20th-century modern architecture:

  • Municipal Auditorium (1937) by Thomas Reed Martin with Clarence Martin
  • Chidsey Library (1941) by Thomas Reed Martin and Frank Martin
  • Sarasota Visual Arts Association (1948) by Thomas Reed Martin and Frank Martin
  • Blue Pagoda, former Chamber of Commerce (1956) by Victor Lundy
  • Sarasota Garden Club (1960) by John Crowell
  • Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (1970) by Wesley Peters, Taliesin Associated Architects

A public-private partnership, The Bay “preserves, restores, and transforms 53-acres of city-owned land into a blue-green oasis.”  The Bay District was included as No.53 on the Moderns That Matter: Sarasota 100 under the “Recreational” category.

Tour: 10am-12pm

Meet: The Blue Pagoda, 655 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236

Tickets: Free for Members and Not-Yet-Members (space is limited)

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Opening Party

Cocktails Under the Umbrella

Kick Off MOD Weekend 2025 at the Iconic Umbrella House! Join Architecture Sarasota for an unforgettable evening of libations, live music, and celebration at one of Sarasota’s most treasured landmarks. This event launches MOD Weekend 2025, a tribute to Moderns That Matter, honoring Sarasota’s legacy as a global hub of modern design innovation.

Built in 1953, the Umbrella House is a masterwork of modern architecture. Commissioned by visionary developer Philip Hanson Hiss and designed by the legendary architect Paul Rudolph, it stands as a beacon of bold, forward-thinking design, embodying Sarasota’s architectural significance.

Don’t miss this stylish start to a weekend full of design, culture, and community!

Umbrella House appears as No.22B on the Moderns That Matter: Sarasota 100 list as a “Single-Family Residence,” and Lido Shores Neighborhood is inscribed as No.23.

Celebration:    5-8pm

Location: 1300 Westway Drive, Lido Shores, Sarasota 34236

Tickets:  

$160 for Members

$185 for Not-Yet-Members

GET TICKETS

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Moderns That Matter: Symposium and Sarasota 100 Self-Guided Driving Tour

Symposium

This year’s symposium takes a closer look at the Moderns That Matter, spotlighting the well-known and unsung individuals, events, and places that have shaped nearly a century of modern architecture in our community.

Self-Guided Tour

Explore the legacy of Sarasota’s celebrated modernism through a selection of inspired residential architecture featured in Moderns That Matter: Sarasota 100. This thoughtfully curated tour invites you to visit homes that embody the essence of Mid-Century Modern design and the Sarasota School of Architecture. These well-preserved — and in some cases, reimagined — spaces continue to inspire, evolve, and redefine how design shapes the way we live.

Symposium

Check-in: Opens at 9am

Coffee and Lite Breakfast available for purchase from Bonanno’s Bagels

Pop-up MOD SHOP

Symposium: 9:30-11:30am

Location: Ringling College of Art + Design Auditorium

Larry Thompson Academic Center

2415 Bradenton Road, Sarasota, FL 34234

Tour

Self-Guided Driving Tour

Tour: 12-4PM

A map with locations and descriptions will be available for ticket holders after the seminar until 1pm

Begin at any house on the tour

Tickets: $100 for Members, $125 for Not-Yet-Members

GET TICKETS

Moderns That Matter: Symposium and Sarasota 100 Guided Shuttle Tour

Symposium

This year’s symposium takes a closer look at the Moderns That Matter, spotlighting the well-known and unsung individuals, events, and places that have shaped nearly a century of modern architecture in our community.

Guided Tour by Shuttle

Enjoy a box lunch and then join an expert guide in exploring the legacy of Sarasota’s celebrated modernism through a selection of inspired residential architecture featured in Moderns That Matter: Sarasota 100. This thoughtfully curated tour by shuttle invites you to visit homes that embody the essence of Mid-Century Modern design and the Sarasota School of Architecture. These well-preserved — and in some cases, reimagined — spaces continue to inspire, evolve, and redefine how design shapes the way we live.

Symposium

Check-in: Opens at 9am

Coffee and Lite Breakfast available for purchase from Bonanno’s Bagels

Pop-up MOD SHOP

Symposium: 9:30-11:30am

Location: Ringling College of Art + Design Auditorium

Larry Thompson Academic Center

2415 Bradenton Road, Sarasota, FL 34234

Tour

Box Lunch and Guided Tour by Shuttle

Location: Ringling College of Art + Design Auditorium

Larry Thompson Academic Center

2415 Bradenton Road, Sarasota, FL 34234

Boxed Lunch: Distributed after seminar

Tour: Bus departs at 12:15pm and returns at 4:00pm

Note: Tour departs and returns to Ringling College of Art + Design Auditorium.

Tickets: $200 for Members, $250 for Not-Yet-Members

GET TICKETS

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Moderns That Matter: Sarasota 100 Tour by Water

Architecture Sarasota’s Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Christopher Wilson, leads this thought-provoking boat tour of landmarks and more everyday spaces that make up the Moderns That Matter. As No. 100 on the Sarasota 100, “The Waterfront” celebrates the powerful influence of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico in shaping the community’s vibrant identity and cultural heritage.

Check-in: 9:15am (check-in ends 15 minutes prior to departure)

Tour: 10am-12pm

Depart: LeBarge Tropical Cruises, 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL 34236

Tickets:

$130 for Members

$160 for Not-Yet-Members

Continental breakfast and mimosas included.

GET TICKETS

Open House at McCulloch Pavilion

Wrap Up MOD Weekend with Style at the McCulloch Pavilion!

Join us for an enjoyable Sunday afternoon at the McCulloch Pavilion as MOD Weekend comes to a close. Wander through the galleries and check out our first-ever MOD Mart Pop-up – a curated vintage market where you might uncover your next mid-century modern treasure.

Shop from standout vendors like Braden River Antiques, Retro Revival, Canned Ham Vintage, Layna’s Corner, and The Hudson Mercantile. Don’t forget to stop by the MOD Shop to pick up exclusive memorabilia and books to commemorate your MOD Weekend experience! Refreshments will be provided.

Open House: 12-4pm

Location: McCulloch Pavilion, 265 S Orange Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236

Tickets: Free to Members and Not-Yet Members

GET TICKETS

MOD Weekend 2025 Packages

Moderns That Matter Weekend Pass with Self-Guided Tour

Opening Party: Cocktails Under the Umbrella

Symposium and Self-Guided Driving Tour

Boat Tour with Continental Breakfast with Mimosas

Open House and MOD Mart Pop-up at McCulloch Pavilion

Passes:

$375.00 for Members

$470.00 for Not-Yet-Members

GET TICKETS

Moderns That Matter VIP Weekend Pass with Guided Tour by Shuttle

Opening Party: Cocktails Under the Umbrella

Symposium, Box Lunch, and Guided Tour by Shuttle

Boat Tour with Continental Breakfast with Mimosas

Open House and MOD Mart Pop-up at McCulloch Pavilion

Passes:

$475.00 for Members

$595.00 for Not-Yet-Members

GET TICKETS

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