Region: Florida and Gainesville

	Florida: A Place for Discovery Despite early Spanish exploration that led to the founding of the coastal outpost of St. Augustine in 1565, Florida is a relatively new state. It wasn't until 1861 that railways extended across north Florida, stopping in what became Gainesville on the way to Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico. Development of south Florida began barely 100 years ago, when entrepreneur Henry Flagler extended a train line along the coast from Jacksonville in the north. Over the past few decades, however, Florida has experienced a boom that has made it one of the fastest growing states in the United States. With nearly 10,000 people moving to the state each week, its varied but fragile ecosystems faced grave challenges from exponential increases in population and resulting development. The situation inspired Growth Management - a legislative mandate that made Florida a national model in mapping out a planned future balancing development of both the built and natural environments.
	The architectural result of this history is a rich mixture of Old World charm, urban sprawl, sophisticated thinking and aggressive commercialism. As a result, Florida is a fascinating and quintessentially American place in which to study and propose architectural ideas. The state contains one of the most significant concentrations of important contemporary architecture in the nation, from the "new urbanism" community planning of Seaside to the fanciful vacation venues in and around Orlando's Disney World. In 1991, five of 20 National American Institute of Architecture Awards went to projects located in Florida - more than any other state or country. Michael Graves, Arato Isosaki, Steven Holl, Robert Stern, Antoine Preddock, Aldo Rossi, Holt-Hinshaw-Pfau-Jones, Leon Krier, Andres Duany and Elysabeth Plater-Zyberk are among the many internationally known architects whose works grace the region.
	Gainesville: A Place for Living and Learning Situated in the rolling countryside of north central Florida, Gainesville is much more than a stereotypical college town. Home of the University of Florida, governmental seat of Alachua County and commercial hub for the surrounding region, its attitude is progressive, environmentally conscious and culturally diverse. The presence of many students and faculty from abroad among its 99,000-plus population adds a strong international dimension to its character as a place with small town Southern roots. Its natural environment, temperate climate and civic amenities make Gainesville a beautiful, pleasant and interesting context in which to learn and to live.
	For six consecutive years, Gainesville has been tapped as Florida's most liveable city and has ranked among the leaders in the United States, a reputation created by an exceptional combination of local features. Agreeable weather and lovely landscapes, attractive educational, economic and housing opportunities, varied cultural and recreational resources, and a youthful, energetic ambience all contribute to the standard of living enjoyed by area residents.
	Education and agriculture are the driving forces behind the local economy, which employs a work force of over 200,000. The University of Florida is the largest local employer and sets the area's tone in education, culture and sports. In the surrounding countryside, farming is an important enterprise. Cattle and dairy products, horse breeding, poultry, vegetables, tobacco, corn and timber rank highly in the region's agricultural output. Both farm and city life are enhanced by the area's seasonable weather, with its 255-day growing season, average annual temperatures from a high of 82(F to a low of 56(F, and a yearly average rainfall of 35 inches. Summers are long and warm, with regular rains; winters are dry, marked by short but invigorating cold spells. Gainesville's inland location midway between Florida's two coasts minimizes its exposure to tropical storms and hurricanes, in contrast to elsewhere in the state.
	Educational opportunities abound for Gainesville residents at every stage of life. In addition to the University of Florida, there is the 12,000-strong Santa Fe Community College; the UF College of Education's P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School (kindergarten through 12th grade); a public school system boasting 23 elementary, eight middle and seven high schools; and more than a dozen private schools. In addition, many evening, noncredit, leisure and extension courses are available through county, university and community college programs.
	Numerous facilities provide Gainesville residents with care for their physical and spiritual wellbeing. Four hospitals (UF Shands, Alachua General, Columbia North Florida Regional and the Veterans Administration Medical Center) make the town a major state center for medical research and treatment. There are also many clinics, nursing homes and private practices operated by more than 450 physicians and 100 dentists. More than 100 churches, synagogues, mosques and temples serve the spiritual needs of residents from a variety of faith traditions, along with 15 student chapels and religious centers near campus.
	Mass media has a number of outlets that keep Gainesville residents informed and entertained. Listeners can tune into more than 15 radio stations, including WUFT-FM Classic 89 (the university's National Public Radio station). There are two commercial television stations in addition to WUFT-TV Channel 5 (the university's Public Broadcasting System station); cable television provides access to more than 50 other channels. The local press produces the daily Gainesville Sun and the weekday Independent Florida Alligator, along with many other student and grassroots publications.
	The Gainesville area is a delight for nature lovers and outdoors enthusiasts. Two thirds of Alachua County's 969 square miles are a wilderness of forests dotted with scenic lakes and wetlands. The coastal beaches of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico are one hour away by car. Within the city limits there are several natural preserves: the 280-acre Morningside Nature Center (with its permanent staff and programs on naturalism, farm life, folk culture and crafts), the 57-acre Bivens Arm Nature Park, Devil's Millhopper State Geological Site and Kanapaha Gardens, among others. Numerous natural springs, lakes and rivers - such as the Suwannee, the Ichetucknee or Silver Springs - offer ample opportunities for swimming, diving, fishing, canoeing, tubing and other water sports. Hiking, picnicking, camping and communing with nature are options at the Paynes Prairie State Preserve, the San Felasco Hammock State Preserve, the Ocala National Forest, among other woodlands and green spaces. The Santa Fe Community College teaching zoo is a favorite of animal lovers and children alike.
	Athletics figure prominently in the Gainesville area. In addition to the football powerhouse of the Florida Gators, the University of Florida offers spectators and competitors the chance to enjoy many different sports at the collegiate, intramural and amateur levels. Public golf courses, playing fields, tennis and racquetball courts, exercise facilities and similar amenities on campus and in the community foster physical fitness and healthy play. Special events, such as drag racing's annual Gatornationals, draw large crowds of fans from around the South and the country.
	Gainesville also has a lively cultural scene, with much to offer in the way of theater, music and the arts. Theatergoers enjoy dramatic productions at the UF Constans Theater (home of the Florida Players), the Hippodrome (one of Florida's three state theaters, housed in downtown's stately turn-of-the-century neo-Palladian former post office), the Acrosstown Repertory Theater and the Gainesville Community Playhouse, among others. Music lovers rejoice at the broad spectrum of genres available for audiences and performers alike, from classical to jazz to alternative rock, in settings ranging from formal concert halls to local nightlife venues. Art aficionados frequent the Harn Museum of Art, the University Gallery, the Santa Fe Community College Gallery and many other exhibition spaces to view past achievements and contemporary currents in artistic expression. Others act on their own creative instincts through such arts-and-crafts ventures as the nonprofit Artisans' Guild cooperative and the downtown Spring Arts Festival (one of the best in the Southeast). Other important hubs of enlightenment, entertainment and cultural endeavor include downtown's city-run Thomas Center, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Matheson Historical Center and the 1,880-seat UF Center for Performing Arts, which showcases exceptional local and touring talent. A wide variety of area restaurants, cinemas, nightclubs, supermarkets, specialty shops and a major mall round out opportunities for social life and gracious living.
	Gainesville also features many social service organizations and agencies that meet different needs. Among them are Alcoholics Anonymous, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Birth Center (featuring midwifery care in a family-centered environment), the Boys and Girls Clubs, Bridge House (an alcohol detoxification center), the Corner Drugstore (addiction-related information, analysis and referral), the Crisis Center, Three Rivers Legal Services, Mental Health Services, Parents Without Partners, the Rape Victim Advocate Program, SPARC (Sexual and Physical Abuse Resource Center), the Florida AIDS/HIV Hotline, Tel-Med Tape Library (recorded health information) and the YMCA. The United Way fosters support for many local social and community services.
	Gainesville's location is advantageous for exploring other Florida points of interest, such as St. Augustine (the oldest city in the United States), the Kennedy Space Center, Disney World and Cross Creek (home of author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings). Major urban centers are also within convenient reach. Jacksonville is a one-hour drive away; Tampa and Orlando, two hours; Miami and Atlanta, six hours. Interstate 75, as well as US Highways 441 and 301, facilitates automobile travel to and from town. Gainesville Regional Airport is served by three airlines: US Air Express, Continental Connection and Atlantic Southeast. The Amtrak railway depot in nearby Waldo allows access by train. Within town, the Regional Transit System runs public buses on 11 routes every half-hour on weekdays, hourly on Saturdays. City bus service is free for University of Florida students; bus fare is one dollar for nonstudents.
	City of Gainesville Web Site