Max Strang

Max Wilson Strang (born November 18, 1970) is an American architect based in Sarasota, Florida. Strang is the founding principal of Strang Design (founded in 1998), a South Florida-based architecture firm with offices in Miami, Sarasota, and Winter Haven, Florida. Strang's firm is known for its focus on Regional Modernism (primarily in Florida) and designing with the consideration of the future impact climate change will have on residential and urban development in the coming decades.^[1] Strang's architecture is designed to be integrated within South Florida's subtropical climate and is known for fusing build materials like wood, concrete, glass, and metal elements.^[2]

Max Strang
Born	Max Wilson Strang (1970-11-18) November 18, 1970 (age 53) Winter Haven, Florida
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Florida, Columbia University
Occupation	Architect
Practice	Strang Design
Buildings	Rock House, Rain Garden, Schokman Education Center, Tarpon Bend Residence, Bolsterli Residence, Strang Residence, Latterner Residence

Personal life, career and influences

Strang's grandfather, Charles Walton Adams, left Detroit in 1911 and moved to Lake Alfred, Florida, where he grew citrus and was president of Adams Packing Association – one of the first and largest concentrate plants in Florida.^[3] He later married Emmie Renyolds Adams and had two children, Mary Reynolds Adams (Strang's biological mother) and Charles Walton Adams Jr.^[4] Mary Adams would later marry Carl J. Strang Jr. (Strang's biological father) in Winter Haven, Florida.^[5]

Strang (a Florida native) grew up in Winter Haven, Florida, where his parents commissioned a home by Gene Leedy, a recognized member of the Sarasota School of Architecture (SSOA). Strang's personal (and later professional^[1]) relationship with Gene Leedy introduced him to the architecture of Paul Rudolph and other SSOA leaders – further influencing Strang's dedication and focus on Regional Modernism, perpetuated through his firm.^[6] Strang is a graduate of the University of Florida^[7] and Columbia University.^[8] Before establishing his firm, he worked in the architecture offices of Gene Leedy, SHoP Architects, and Zaha Hadid Architects.

Notable honors and awards

• 2022: AIA Miami Firm of the Year^[9]
• 2022: AIA Miami Architect of the Year (Max Strang, FAIA)^[9]
• 2022: AIA Florida Award of Excellence in Historic Preservation and Restoration (The Gene Leedy House)^[10]
• 2021: AIA Miami Award of Excellence: Renovation and Restoration (The Gene Leedy House)^[11]
• 2021: AIA Florida Award of Excellence: New Work (Tarpon Bend Residence)^[12]
• 2020: AIA Florida Award of Excellence: New Work (Shelter Residence)^[13]
• 2020: AIA Florida Unbuilt Award (Leedy Replica – M Series)^[13]
• 2019: AIA Florida Medal of Honor for Design (Max Strang, FAIA)^[14]
• 2018: AIA Miami Award of Excellence (Mountain Lake Residence)^[15]
• 2016: AIA Florida Honor Award for Unbuilt Work (Mola)^[16]
• 2016: Induction into AIA College of Fellows (Max Strang, FAIA)^[17]
• 2014: AIA Florida Award of Excellence (Biscayne Bay Residence)^[18]
• 2013: AIA Miami Silver Medal for Design (Max Strang, AIA)^[19]
• 2010: AIA Miami Firm of the Year^[20]
• 2007: AIA Miami Young Architect of the Year (Max Strang, AIA)^[21]
• 2003: AIA Miami Young Architect of the Year (Max Strang, AIA)^[22]

Approach to sustainability

Strang's adoption and adaptation of Regional Modernism (see also Critical Regionalism) is what he calls Environmental Modernism^[23] – focusing on the core tenets of the SSOA movement to connect architecture and environment. Strang prioritizes the use of local materials, such as Florida Keystone and Oolitic limestone for South Florida projects, as well as non-local, sustainably focused products.^[24] Strang has lectured about Florida's environmental concerns and ‘sea-level rise’, and its associated issues of inland migration while calling attention to the need for sustainable architectural materials and strategies. ^[25] Strang has openly participated in the dialogue of reducing ‘embodied energy’ in buildings.^[26]

Strang's 2016 project, the Net-Zero House, in Miami Beach features 112 photovoltaic panels that feed batteries that is estimated to power the 5,500 square foot building for several months. When discussing the designs of newly built concrete homes on Florida's coastlines, Strang says: "there’s no denying that homes of this size and complexity contain lots of embodied energy. But, to try not to offset embodied energy would just be sitting idly by."^[26]

In 2017 Strang partnered with architect Gene Leedy FAIA on a project they called the "reissues" in which Leedy's 1,100-square-foot courtyard home designs were re-envisioned as an alternative to today's larger residences.^[27] The project received an award for design excellence from AIA Florida.^[13]

References

1. "A Conversation with Max Strang, FAIA". mydigitalpublication.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
2. HomeBuilderDigest (April 13, 2021). "The Best Residential Architects in Fort Lauderdale, Florida". Home Builder Digest. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
3. HUNT, GRACE BEULEY (February 11, 2021). "In Florida Citrus Country, A Wellness Agrihood Takes Root". Luxe Interiors + Design. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
4. "CHARLES ADAMS Obituary (2016) – Winter Haven, FL – The Ledger". Legacy.com. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
5. "CARL STRANG Obituary (2014) – Winter Haven, FL – News-Chief". Legacy.com. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
6. "A Modern Waterfront Home in Fort Lauderdale with Walls of Glass". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
7. "Gator100 Nominees – University of Florida Alumni Association". connect.ufalumni.ufl.edu. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
8. "Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation", Wikipedia, February 22, 2023, retrieved March 6, 2023
9. "2022 AIA Miami Design Awards". AIA Miami | The Miami Chapter of American Institute of Architects. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
10. "2022 Awards Winners". aiafla.org. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
11. "2021 AIA Miami Design Awards". AIA Miami | The Miami Chapter of American Institute of Architects. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
12. "2021 Design Award Winners". aiafla.org. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
13. "2020 Winners". aiafla.org. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
14. "Award Winners". www.aiafla.org. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
15. "2018 AIA Miami Design Awards". AIA Miami | The Miami Chapter of American Institute of Architects. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
16. "AIA Florida Design Awards: Current Winners". aiafla.org. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
17. "College of Fellows – AIA". www.aia.org. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
18. "2014 Design Awards Archive". aiafla.org. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
19. "2013 AIA Miami Design Awards". AIA Miami | The Miami Chapter of American Institute of Architects. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
20. "2010 AIA Miami Design Awards". AIA Miami | The Miami Chapter of American Institute of Architects. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
21. "2007 AIA Miami Design Awards". AIA Miami | The Miami Chapter of American Institute of Architects. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
22. "2003 AIA Miami Design Awards". AIA Miami | The Miami Chapter of American Institute of Architects. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
23. Environmental modernism : the architecture of [STRANG]. Oscar Riera Ojeda, Max Strang, John T. O'Connor, Claudia Uribe Touri, Claudio Manzoni. Hong Kong. 2018. ISBN 978-1-946226-12-9. OCLC 1041521013.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
24. Environmental Modernism + The Swamp, retrieved March 9, 2023
25. Walters, Kelly (November 20, 2020). "Designer Friday: An ASPIRE Exclusive Interview With Max Strang". aspire design and home. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
26. "Experts Give Their Wisdom On Today's Best Sustainable Building Practices". Architectural Digest. April 19, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
27. Christensen, Kris (August 16, 2019). "Gene Leedy's Vision Lives on with Max Strang's Reissue Project". Home. Retrieved March 27, 2023.