AMANDA S. BARTON
HKS, Inc.
SAY IT LOUD - FLORIDA Exhibitor
Florida Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
When I see my nieces and nephews, I am inspired to be a part of shaping a better future for them. I strive for my designs, and our industry as a whole, to create a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient world for future generations.
AMANDA S. BARTON
Bio:
The Great Designer Amanda Barton, a Miami native, is an architect at HKS Inc., specializing in coastal hospitality design. Amanda champions various ESG-related initiatives that focus on education, advocacy, and processes, striving to incorporate these concepts into her work. She is the AIA Miami President for 2023 and has earned numerous awards through volunteering, such as AIA Florida Member of the Year in 2019 and the University of Miami’s Alpha Rho Chi Medal in 2013. She is dedicated to helping her community and is an avid learner.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
In high school, I participated in an architecture summer program; it was there that I discovered my passion for design. I was inspired at the thought of creating sustainable spaces for communities that could be functional and culturally significant.
What do you do?
I'm a project designer and licensed architect. My role often requires me to create unique and innovative designs for large scale hospitality projects. I am also the president of AIA Miami and an advocate for our industry and our communities.
What excites you in the work you do?
One of the most rewarding parts of working in the hospitality side of architecture is that I have the opportunity to create unique spaces that bring joy to a wide variety of people in some of the most beautiful destinations in the world.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
When I see my nieces and nephews, I am inspired to be a part of shaping a better future for them. I strive for my designs, and our industry as a whole, to create a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient world for future generations.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
I'm proud of the work I've done implementing resilient design in my projects and advocating for its use as a common practice in our field. I co-authored a tool kit that explains the process of how architects can make their projects more resilient.
Featured Project Name:
Jungle Island Resort
Featured Project Location:
Miami, Florida
Featured Project Completion Date:
Unbuilt
Role in Featured Project:
Project Designer
Featured Project Description:
Once a sprawling parking garage, Jungle Island Resort strives to revitalize two unique Miami parks, Jungle Island and Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden, by creating an active boulevard connecting the parks with a 300-key hotel, shops, and a more efficient garage servicing both. It looks at the macroscale - how the building fits in the skyline, and the microscale of how visitors would be embraced by nature. The design takes cues from wings, as the macaw is the signature animal of the park.
