If you went to school in Tampa Bay over the last 40 years, there’s a good chance architect Rick Rados designed at least one of the buildings you attended.
Known for his “mall concept” school designs, his layouts often centered around a central dining or display area, with surrounding classroom “storefronts.”
“The design fosters a sense of community that students don’t get in traditional narrow corridors between rooms,” said Rados in a 1985 Tampa Tribune profile.
“School boards like the concept because they can take it and modify it to different educational programs,” he continued. “So, the mall concept involves teaching space that could be divided up or taken down – the building could be changed without any major structural work.”
Rados’ “mall concept” schools span across Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco Counties, and include South Tampa’s Jefferson High School, Plant City High School, River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, Countryside High School in Clearwater, Pinellas Park High School, and dozens of elementary schools across the area.
But besides educational facilities, Rados also designed plenty of local homes, including his own, which is now on the market in Treasure Island. Located at 6 Treasure Ln., the home was built in 2022 and was designed to withstand a Category 4 hurricane. “There was NO flooding or structural damage during Helene or Milton.” says the listing. The 1,440-square-foot elevated home comes with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well a dock and an oversized front parking area.
Rados, who taught architecture at the University of Florida and University of South Florida, won the Medal of Honor from the Tampa Bay area chapter of the American Institute of Architects, as well as awards with the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects and the Governor’s Design Award Program.
The Rados home is currently asking $1,825,000 and the listing agent is Patricia Smedley of Smith & Associates.
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