by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
For the past 12 years Michael Dunlap has designed residential and commercial buildings, interiors and other more personal things in an office that occupies the front half of the second floor of the Schultz Building on West Adams Street. The office mirrors Dunlap’s specialty since it’s a classic adaptive reuse project.
The building was once used by the Atlantic National Bank and Dunlap’s main work room is in what used to be ANB’s conference room. One of the features is a glass-walled atrium that was once almost wide open. Dunlap said when he leased the space, he was concerned about safety so he negotiated with the landlord who agreed to fully enclose the space. That gave the office an impressive three-sided centerpiece with a view down to the building’s entryway and lobby.
While the half of the office nearest Adams Street is virtually the same as it was when the bank had the space, the other half of the office has been equipped with all the modern elements, including a drop ceiling and track lighting.
Architects don’t sign their creations like artists do, so you may not be aware of some of Dunlap’s work you pass by every day. In addition to many office buildings and residences, he’s also the designer behind Bistro Aix in San Marco and Shelby’s Coffee Shop in Neptune Beach, which is one of Dunlap’s favorite projects.
“It’s traditional neighborhood infill. We took it from single use — it was at one time the Ed Smith Lumber Company — and converted it to mixed-use,” he said.
The architect also has an artistic side, from the standpoints of both appreciation and production. Dunlap uses his eye for design in his hobby, fine art photography. Many examples of his work behind the camera decorate the office and the hallway outside alongside pieces by local artists Dunlap has collected over the years.
He’s also one of the artists who exhibit at Southlight Gallery, an “Off the Grid” location along Forsyth Street facing the Bank of America Tower. The former ground floor of Gold’s Gym has become one of Downtown’s most popular art galleries. It has also evolved from a space open only for First Wednesday Art Walk into a gallery that’s open most days during the week and always by appointment. It was inspired by the one-day shows Dunlap and his fellow local artists put together from time to time years ago in Riverside.
“I enjoy being part of the art uprising Downtown,” he said.
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