Photo Courtesy of Kirk Chamberlain Studio

A high-functioning office space is equal parts science and style.  Whether it’s 8,000 square feet or 80,000 square feet, commercial space should help employees work efficiently and comfortably, be inviting to clients, reflect the corporate image and be flexible for future growth or business changes. To learn more, we talked with Connie Turner, a leading commercial interior designer based in Jacksonville who recently completed major corporate projects for Adecco and Rayonier and has worked as a consultant on more than 10 airport design projects around the country.

What’s the scope of commercial interior design?
In my practice, it can mean a soup-to-nuts build out where I create the space plan, present CAD drafted floor plans and elevations, develop construction documents and get city approvals, create the furniture plan, present color palette selections, supervise the build-out and deliver a move-in space.  Or, I often work as a consultant alongside building managers, architects, construction managers and other professionals to provide space planning and design.

Do only large corporations need professional design services?
Actually, I work with both medium and large companies – any business that’s looking to maximize its space and ensure it’s going to work well for their specific needs.  I’ve done spaces as small as 1,500 square feet and as large as 150,000 square feet.

When should a company seek your help?
Occasionally I help companies rethink their existing space and rework it to better meet their needs and update the design.  More and more, companies come to me very early in the process – when they are outgrowing space or they are thinking about moving for better lease rates.  I help them determine their “shopping number” – the amount of square footage they need to meet their current requirements and ensure they have room to grow. 

In the case of Davidson Realty, I worked with them very early on which was a unique opportunity because we actually developed a space plan that the building was then designed around.  Jim and Sherry Davidson wanted to rethink typical work cubicles and create a space where both clients and employees would feel “at home”. The result was this residential inspired U-shaped space with several small “living rooms” where clients could meet with agents or builders in a relaxed, inviting environment.  The courtyard at Davidson was Rick Pariani’s inspiration and is a real standout – it extends the building’s public space, reflects the residential feel, marries the outdoors with the interior space and epitomizes the quality lifestyle inherent in The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village where Davidson Realty makes its home.

At the gateway to our St. Augustine golf course community there is a remarkable property – amazingly, still available. The parcel, #8.1, is 4.31 acres in size, located at the terminus of Town Center Court. Featuring three sides interfaced with forested, high-quality Conservation Lands, the parcel offers a beautifully serene environment for most any office use.

I encourage you to imagine what it would be like to have this premier location for your business. The arrival to your building starts with the tailored and manicured entranceway to World Golf Village, just off of the very-safe-and-easy-to-negotiate World Golf Village I95 Interchange (Exit 323).  At the intersection of International Golf Parkway and WGV Boulevard your arrival sequence unfolds with magnificent vistas over the #3 Fairway of the Slammer & Squire Golf Course. Turning into the Village, you proceed over the signature, stone-clad and illuminated arrival bridge. You then immediately encounter the graceful, shady canopies of the street tree Live Oaks framing WGV Boulevard. You follow the ingenious, unified signage designs that help direct and clarify your path. In a moment, you arrive at the first right turn into East Town Center. Continuing between the Double Eagle Building and the landmark, arts and crafts inspired, Davidson Realty Building, you turn onto Town Center Court, which leads you directly into your private realm.

Thor, the latest Marvel Comics film, is an experience like no other at the World Golf Village IMAX! From the picture clarity and definition to the 28,000 watts of sound, you will feel like you are taking part in Thor’s exile to Earth and triumphant return!

The action sequences in this movie are unmatched on our IMAX’s 60 ft by 80 ft wide screen! Imagine watching Chris Hemsworth take on the Frost Giants on a 6 story high screen! You will be so captivated you won’t even care what you look like in those silly 3D glasses.

Thor is only one of five movies playing at the World Golf IMAX right now, so if Thor isn’t for you, then be sure to check out Born to be Wild 3D, The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D, Under the Sea 3D, or Hubble 3D! Also, you can buy your tickets in advance right now for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides an IMAX 3D Experience, which opens May 20th! See all the films coming up here: http://worldgolfimax.com/coming_soon.php

Have you heard of the IMAX Annual Pass Programs? There are two great options to get your fill of great movies, priority seating, awesome snacks, and fun on the 18 hole putting course – The Power Pass is $69 and the Discovery Pass is just $39! Read more here: http://worldgolfimax.com/movie_club.php

So, come watch Thor on the largest IMAX Digital 3D screen in the Southeastern United States! Experience the highest possible definition on a great film!

Betsy Wilson and her husband, Bryan, live in WildWood with their two “children” – Bandit who is a Jack Russell and Cicero who is their cat. They moved to our St. Augustine golf course community earlier this year from Tampa. We are pleased to have Betsy in the WGV Resident Spotlight this month. Meet Betsy!
 
1.Who has inspired you as a mentor and why?
 
My mother. She was a woman before her time.

2.Where would you most like to travel?
 
South Africa. To be one with nature would be incredible.

3. Which language would you like to speak fluently?
 
French. It sounds so romantic.
 
4.What does your perfect day look like?
 
Sitting on the beach with a good book.

5. Do you believe in coincidence or synchronicity?
 
Life is 1/3 WHO you know, 1/3 WHAT you know and 1/3 WHEN you know it.

On another beautiful spring day in St. Augustine, Florida, we decided to do a video for you of the King & Bear golf course in our St. Augustine golf community – the only course co-designed by Palmer and Nicklaus in the world. I asked golf member and Davidson Agent Jock Ochiltree to narrate the video. As soon as we pulled up to the King & Bear clubhouse, an outside attendant approached us and said, “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it Mr. Ochiltree?” Of course, Jock’s response was it would be if he was there to play golf, but he was there to help me out by making a video. Even though the attendant was reluctant, we talked him into being in the video too! The things the staff will do for the members is amazing!
 
Together, they share information on the golf carts’ GPS systems, the mango-scented, iced towels that are handed out on the course on summer days and the chilled apples that are served on the first and tenth tees. Jock also introduces you to the course with a sneak peek of the first and tenth holes. There is even a cameo appearance by Laterra Links resident, Doug Shultz. We hope you enjoy the video! Next month, we will give you a video tour of World Golf Village’s other championship course, Slammer & Squire.

I find that well within the comfortable 3-hour-driving-radius of our community you can gain great experiences at a variety of memorable places. One such place is Thomasville, Georgia – an easy and direct trip, due west of Jacksonville and a beautiful drive north from Tallahassee.

Historic Thomasville is known as the City of Roses. You will experience it as the place where history and heritage is infused with grace and charm. Thomasville was established on December 22, 1826 as the new county seat of Thomas County. The railroad reached Thomasville in 1861 and shortly after the War Between The States the town became known as the “Winter Resort of the South”. The Thomasville experience provided a healthy and lavish resort lifestyle, wrapped up and delivered with the best Southern hospitality.  The town’s brand-new, luxurious, electrified and plumbed, resort hotels regularly hosted America’s wealthiest industrialists, their families and their guests. They came to enjoy and actively socialize over hunting, fishing, horse racing, bicycling, golf and auto excursions on the first circumferential perimeter road in the country. As tales of the town’s prominence and allure spread, many of the annually-returning guests began to build their own in-town “cottages”, designed and decorated by celebrated New York and Chicago architects. The most wealthy and ambitious ones built their own out-lying “plantations” – which were much more “sporting estate” than farm. The discerning lifestyles of both the year-rounders and the winter snow-birds combined to create an enduring sense of place that still characterizes the town.

On another beautiful day in our St. Augustine golf course community, Jennifer Todd – a St. Augustine Realtor at Davidson Realty, Inc. – gave us a tour of one of the four specially-priced homesites we have available on the King & Bear golf course. We started off at the entrance to the neighborhood of custom homes. Then, we went around to the gazebo that is just down the street from the featured lot. It offers a beautiful view of the 4th fairway on the King & Bear. It is also the school bus stop for many of the kids in the neighborhood. Next, we went to the homesite itself, which is Parcel 7, Lot 77 in Waterbury by the Links. The street address is 2013 Crown Drive.
 
The homesite will offer incredible water-to-golf views from the living levels of a home, however, we were unable to fully appreciate them because we are about 5′ tall and as you will see there is a beautiful berm between us and the views.  The nice thing about the berm is that is does provide privacy! The lake, which you can see at the back of the homesite, is over 150 feet wide. The overall panoramic vista across the #5 and #6 fairways is more than a 1/3 of a mile. The views would be easy to enjoy from a home’s lanai or balcony!
 
The lot is about 18,000 square feet, equivalent to about .40 acre. The lot is a basic rectangular shape, tapering towards the rear, with the front at 125 feet wide, the middle at 110 feet, and the rear at 90 feet wide. The depth of the lot is 168 feet. The lot is offered at $120,000. If you would like more information, please contact Jennifer Todd at Davidson Realty at 904.940.5000. Please enjoy the video!

Spring is definitely in the air in our St. Augustine golf course community!  This weekend is the 16th annual EPIC Flower and Garden Expo at the St. Johns County Agricultural Center and Arboretum. One of our World Golf Village residents, Shirley Barber, is a Master Gardner with St. Johns County. She designs the flower gardens at St. Johns County Agriculture center. The event goes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 16th and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 17th.

Shirley is a life long gardener that has grown from seed and installed plants in public gardens in Georgia, Texas, North Carolina and Florida. In the past six years, she has donated and installed thousands of plants that were grown in World Golf Village from seeds and cuttings. Shirley will be conducting garden tours during the Garden and Flower Show on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

During 2007 and 2008, Shirley coordinated and authored two award applications for Master Gardeners’ projects in St. Johns County, resulting in two First Place State Awards from the University of Florida for Education and Beautification. She also coordinated and authored an award application in 2009, resulting in a Top-Three International Award presented at the Master Gardeners International Conference.

This year’s event will feature vendors from all over Florida. Keynote speakers will be featured as well as educational horticultural seminars. There will also be a quilt exhibit by the St. Augustine Piecemakers Quilt Guild and a silent auction by the Master Gardeners. All items will be awarded to the highest bidder at the conclusion of the show. The best part is parking is free and it only costs $5 for both days!!! So take your family to the beautiful gardens and think spring!

Our A-rated St. Johns County school system is one of the biggest draws for young families moving to the World Golf Village and north St. Johns County area. Even with decreasing budgets and continued threats of more budget cuts, our schools remain some of the best in Florida and even the country. With that excellent reputation for quality education comes lots of families and increased demand on our schools. An expansion at Mill Creek Elementary School and a new elementary school in Palencia will help ease the influx and keep up with growth.

The new two-story expansion at Mill Creek Elementary School is nearly complete and will welcome new students at the start of the 2011/2012 school year. Sixteen new classrooms are housed in the state-of-the-art facility which features the latest technology and a flexible design plan that allows for functional breakout spaces.

Recently, the St. Johns County School Board unveiled its plans for a new $16 million elementary school in Palencia. Plans call for the school to be ready for the 2013/2014 school year. Approximately 700 students are expected to attend to the K-5 school. The new school will also help alleviate stress on Mill Creek Elementary which currently serves more than 1,000 students. “There’s been quite a bit of growth in the area. Probably the greatest amount of stress is on Mill Creek Elementary and some other schools in the area,” said Tim Forson, associate superintendent for operational services. The school will be situated next to Palencia Park on about 8 acres.