Winner of the Jan Abell Award for Outstanding Contribution in Historic Preservation and in the Investment Category at the Planning Commission's 35th Annual Planning & Design Awards presented by TECO in 2017, the new Bryan Glazer Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) was designed by FleischmanGarcia with Behar + Peteranecz Architecture. Orginally constructed in 1941 for Florida National Guard and United States Army Reserves use, the Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory had also served as Tampa's largest and most popular venue for entertainment and community activities. As an important historic landmark for the City of Tampa, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. Vacant since 2004, the Armory was deteriorating at a rapid pace. Yet, the structure was found to be in excellent condition.
The new South Tampa Jewish Community Center is an extraordinary gathering place, providing a wide range of programs and services that focus on wellness, for people of all ages, including recreation, fitness, education and culture to engage a large number of individuals and help to meet the needs of a diverse community. It includes a 600 seat state-of-the-art event center, gymnasium, competition swimming pool, fitness center, childcare, and meeting rooms. More than a revitalized historic treasure, the JCC has become become a catalyst for revitalization, transforming the NoHo/West Tampa community.