Dan Marino Foundation

The Dan Marino Foundation's vocational training facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, represents a transformative adaptive reuse project, converting an existing commercial building into a specialized educational environment designed to support young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Developed to accommodate an innovative postsecondary vocational training program, the project reimagined the building's interior spaces to support education, career development, and practical life skills. The transformation required carefully integrating the facility's specialized program within the constraints of an existing commercial structure, creating a functional and purposeful environment dedicated to learning, independence, and personal growth. During his tenure with PowersSchram Architecture & Planning, Luxaforma founder Juan Gomez served as Project Manager, contributing extensive expertise in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and architectural documentation. Beginning with site visits, field observations, and existing survey information, Juan documented and digitally reconstructed the existing building to establish a comprehensive BIM model as the foundation for the architectural design process. Working from the project's inception through Design Development, Juan helped translate the evolving educational program into coordinated architectural plans and a detailed digital building model. This BIM foundation supported the transition into Construction Documents, allowing an expanded project team to continue developing the renovation documentation efficiently and consistently. Juan remained involved as a member of the architectural team through Construction Administration, contributing to the continuity of the design and coordination process as the project progressed toward completion. Beyond the technical transformation of an existing building, the project demonstrates the potential of adaptive reuse to create environments with lasting social value—where thoughtful architectural planning and technical expertise support education, opportunity, and greater independence. Client / Organization: The Dan Marino Foundation Architectural Firm: PowersSchram Architecture & Planning Professional Contribution: Juan Gomez, during employment with PowersSchram Architecture & Planning Role: Architectural Project Management & BIM Development Scope of Involvement: Existing Building Documentation, BIM Reconstruction, Architectural Planning, Design Development, and Construction Documentation Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida