Since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Florida’s building codes have been changed for the better. Homes built since then have been built to be stronger in the face of catastrophic storms. However, 30 years later, the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian makes it clear that buildings haven’t necessarily gotten smarter.

While Florida Building Code has improved, many homes are still built on wood pilings that deteriorate over time and can never provide the strength of concrete. Many windows are still installed in ways that leak air and water.

Architecture Joyce Owens (AJO) has been designing coastal homes across Southwest Florida, with a focus on Sanibel and Captiva islands, since 2007. We are committed to designing for strength and sustainability in Florida’s unique conditions, while helping to lessen the impact of building on the fragile ecosystems of our beachfront.

Launching AJO’s Florida “Rebuilding Smarter Stronger” (@AJO_FLRSS) series on Instagram, we are working to provide architectural design knowledge for buildings that can not only withstand the devastating weather and sub-tropical climate extremes of Florida, but thrive as communities for the future.

Our expertise comes from decades of experience and knowledge. Together, we can build toward a smarter, stronger, and safer Florida.