After studying at SCI-Arc, teaching at UCLA, and working for Smith-Miller+Hawkinson in New York, Margi G. Nothard founded GLAVOVIC STUDIO in Fort Lauderdale in 1999 because she understood that her sustainably and socially conscious approach to architecture could have an impact there. The firm brings a global perspective and ambition that links local ideas, traditions and needs with a broader international perspective. With each of the firm’s projects, GS sees a moral imperative, not only to fulfill the client’s brief, but also to create work that elevates the quality of life for all who will interact with it, both inside and out. The idea that thoughtful architecture can strengthen social bonds and connections and create new segments of an urban fabric is what underlies much of what Glavovic Studio does. Sustainability is a core part of GS’ philosophy, but this goes well beyond checklists and certifications; in the firm’s hands, sustainability is a value system that is about a lasting, beautiful and adaptable approach to architecture. Nothard sees her role as being that of a cultural change agent and facilitator and she selects her projects accordingly—primarily public housing, cultural centers, parks, and libraries. From a commercial building repurposed into a glowing showcase for women’s art, to a 132-unit affordable housing project, to the design of an innovative tech headquarters covering a more than 250,000 square feet, Glavovic Studio’s projects positively impact those who live and work within them—and the cities in which they are located. The firm’s commitment is abundantly clear in projects such as Kennedy Homes, an award-winning 132-unit, LEED-Gold-certified affordable housing project located at the gateway to the City of Fort Lauderdale and designed to impart a sense of dignity and belonging to its residents through a very careful massing strategy that allows the site to function as an expanded green space within an urban landscape.
