--- title: "Traction Architecture — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/traction-architecture-pfvwus-pf~1761642935 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1761642935.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Traction Architecture" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/dd63f3c202bb8cd2_7178-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Tampa, Florida 33629, United States" phone: "(813) 992-2798" website: http://www.tractionarchitecture.com rating: 5 review_count: 5 best_of_houzz_awards: 2 followers: 115 last_updated: 2026-09-17 --- # Traction Architecture Original Houzz profile: [Traction Architecture](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/traction-architecture-pfvwus-pf~1761642935) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Tampa, FL - **Serves:** Tampa, Saint Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, Anna Maria Island, Gulf Coast beaches, Long Boat Key - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (5 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2015–2016), for Design. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Recommended on Houzz - 500 Ideabook Saves Traction Architecture is an award-winning architecture practice in Tampa, Florida led by principals, Jody Beck, AIA and Ross-Alan Tisdale, AIA. The firm specializes in design for thoughtful living - the creation of modern, sustainable spaces that enhance the experience of the everyday. To learn more, visit www.tractionarchitecture.com. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - New Home Construction - Sustainable Design - Energy-Efficient Homes - 3D Rendering - Space Planning - Custom Homes ### Areas Served - Tampa - Saint Petersburg - Clearwater - Sarasota - Anna Maria Island - Gulf Coast beaches - Long Boat Key ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Traction Architecture | | Address | Tampa, Florida 33629, United States | | Phone | (813) 992-2798 | | Website | http://www.tractionarchitecture.com | | License Number | AA26002036 | | Followers on Houzz | 115 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/tractionarchitecture - Blog — https://www.instagram.com/tractionarchitecture/?hl=en ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Traction Architecture](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/traction-architecture-pfvwus-pf~1761642935) - **Website:** http://www.tractionarchitecture.com - **Phone:** (813) 992-2798 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - AIA Tampa Bay Design Honor Award (2013) / AIA Gulf Coast Design Award (2014) / SRQ Magazine Home of the Year (2014) / AIA Tampa Bay Design Merit Award (2015) / Hillsborough County Planning Commission Design Award (2016) / AIA Florida Design Award (2018) / AIA Florida Object Award (2019) - **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2015–2016), for Design. **Affiliations** - [AIA Tampa Bay](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/professionals/schools-and-organizations/aia-tampa-bay-pfvwus-pf~1763144063) - [U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/u-s-green-building-council-usgbc-pfvwus-pf~1797160658) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 5 reviews** ### All 5 reviews **★★★★★ — Melinda Ramsey, July 2017** > Jody and Ross overhauled the floor plan for my midcentury fixer to create an open kitchen and great room, office, and larger bathrooms. They oversaw construction when I was out of town, worked closely with my contractor, and helped me pick the right finishes to realize my dream home. I would definitely hire them again. Thank you!! **★★★★★ — Lora Kennedy, June 2017** > I purchased a home that had been in our family for over 60 years. It became clear to me that I was going to have to level it and start from the ground up. I had no idea where to turn. And it was my luck that I happened across an article about Traction Architecture and a house they had designed - in the exact area where my house was. The style was totally different then what I was going for but I loved the designed and hoped they be interested in taking on my much smaller project. > > They came on board very early on and have been there every step of the way. They went above and beyond the scope of their job. Everything was professional and thoroughly thought through. We were in sync the whole time. And it was actually a fun and creative process for us all. They took in my ideas and incorporated them with theirs. I found them inventive and willing to think outside the box. > > I cannot be more proud of the result. It's exactly what I had dreamed of. I can not recommend they highly enough. **★★★★★ — BORDEN Landscape Design, Oct. 2014** > I collaborated with a team of professionals including Jody and Ross on a beautiful modern home in Sarasota this past year. We took great care in providing the level of detail and functionality in the landscape as Traction provided for the built structures. It was a great pleasure working with such highly creative architects and look forward to our next project together. I would highly recommend Traction Architecture for anyone needing thoughtful architectural design. **★★★★★ — shawns2, May 2014** > Working with Traction Architecture was a wonderful experience. They designed what I would call a west coast contemporary home for us on Florida's gulf coast. Ross and Jody are talented, creative architects with refreshing professionalism and attention to every detail that you don't always find in residential construction. Their passion for and willingness to experiment with alternative materials was what we valued most. **★★★★★ — Ampersand Construction, April 2014** > Jody and Ross worked with us and our client Red Bridge Investments to design and build a beautiful house in Sarasota which is for sale through Sothebys International Realty. While they are a great team to work with, we think that the comments from the City Permitting office speaks volumes: "Gentlemen, it has been a long time since we saw this, but we have no comment or question about your building plans. Here is your permit". In fact, it was so simple to build off the simple yet detailed plans, we had almost no need for clarification on anything. The construction was a breeze and we enjoyed the project. > > John & Allan > > http://www.premiersothebysrealty.com/eng/sales/detail/245-l-560-xkf48z/poinsettia-park-poinsettia-park-sarasota-fl-34239 ## Selected projects - [Waterclub](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/waterclub-pj-vj~7640199) - Location: Longboat Key, FL - Photos: 15 - Description: Perched high above the Gulf of Mexico in a condominium tower on Longboat Key, our Waterclub project replaced an awkward 1980s interior with an airy and serene space that celebrates the deep blue and green hues of the Gulf. We began by gutting all existing interior finishes, fixtures and wall framing to establish a clean slate for the project. Though we had to work around existing plumbing, HVAC chases and structural elements, we were able to reconfigure the floor plan to establish clear sight li… - [Brookline House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/brookline-house-pj-vj~7288891) - Location: Boston, MA - Photos: 20 - Description: Located on a tree-lined corner in Brookline, the classic exterior of this 1905 home gives little hint of the bright built-ins and pulsating penny tile hiding inside, a surprising burst of color and light that we incorporated into the interior as part of an extensive renovation. The clients, a family of five with a laid-back vibe and a love of vintage mid-century style, purchased the home for its solid structure and great neighborhood. We worked with them to transform an inefficient layout and da… - [Sunrise House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sunrise-house-pj-vj~7288686) - Location: St. Petersburg, FL - Photos: 11 - Description: Shrouded by thick tropical foliage and a dense tree canopy, the Sunrise House stretches across its east-facing site which fronts Little Bayou, a small inlet off Tampa Bay. The original home, characterized by a low-slung roof, continuous panels of glass, and exposed concrete block fins, was designed by William Harvard in 1954. We were tasked with preserving and restoring the mid-century modern details of the home, while inserting contemporary interventions, expanding spaces, and enhancing views.… - [512 House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/512-house-pj-vj~6586898) - Location: Tampa, FL - Photos: 21 - Description: Situated on a narrow lot overlooking Seddon Channel and the port of Tampa, the 512 House fronts a bustle of multi-modal activity – from sailboats and freighters moving up and down the channel, to cyclists and joggers speeding along the street, to small airplanes taking off and landing at a nearby airport. The house weaves its rich surroundings in and out of its spaces, its design both a reflection of its dynamic site and a portal through which to experience it. The building’s pared down gable fo… - [Dundee House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/dundee-house-pj-vj~6267645) - Location: Tampa, FL - Photos: 19 - Description: Nestled between a busy thoroughfare and the mangrove edge of Tampa Bay, the Dundee House stretches onto its corner lot. Built in 1927, the house was the first in the neighborhood, designed as an aspirational icon to spur the development of the surrounding land. Almost 100 years later when we discovered the property, we found peeling surfaces, old wiring, leaking cast iron pipes, cramped rooms and rodent nests; but we also saw a strong structure and carefully crafted details. The home’s embodied… - [Seagrape House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/seagrape-house-pj-vj~5921887) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - Description: Anna Maria, FL The Seagrape House is a weekend retreat on the Gulf of Mexico. Situated on a barrier island, the shape of the site shifts with each passing storm. During the course of the project, dunes emerged and multiplied, and the distance between the house and the coastline more than doubled. We conceived of the house as a physical anchor along the blurred edge between land and sea, a tool to understand the landscape and one’s place within it. Permanence is expressed by selectively exposing… - [Surof House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/surof-house-pj-vj~5921935) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - Description: Bradenton Beach, FL Perched quietly on a lot between the Gulf of Mexico and Anna Maria Sound, the Surof House creates sensorial links with the water while withstanding the threatening storms that arise in the Gulf. What began as the renovation of a tiny, run-down beach shack turned into building a completely new home designed to resist storms while reflecting the old Florida character of the original shack. Combining the wood construction and simple geometries typical of the island’s ramshackle… - [Siesta House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/siesta-house-pj-vj~5921847) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 9 - Description: Siesta Key, FL Siesta House spills out onto its site from a set of stacked and interlocking volumes that hold similarly interwoven spaces. Organized around a central breezeway clad in thin planks of warm wood, the house’s spaces are split into two zones: a primary living area for the owners and a set of private spaces for their adult children and grandchildren. The site’s location in a flood zone necessitated a six-foot elevation change between the first floor and grade. To negotiate this differ… - [Bougainvillea House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bougainvillea-house-pj-vj~5921946) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - Description: Sarasota, Florida On an infill lot in a residential neighborhood of Sarasota, the Bougainvillea House stretches gently outward to fill its site, its asymmetrical floor plan subtly referencing the 1940s Art Moderne home whose place it occupies. A series of interior and exterior spaces — solids and voids — define the spatial sequence, which includes a two-story detached studio that we renovated and incorporated into the overall design for the house. This studio comes together with the main house t… - [Luzon House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/luzon-house-pj-vj~5921988) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - Description: Tampa, Florida Faced with renovating a 1950s Florida ranch style home, we looked to its clean lines and classic character as a point of departure. To bring in light and air, we removed the walls that separated the kitchen from the living room and dining areas, creating a line of sight that stretches all the way across the home and through interior and exterior. Paying homage to the home’s mid-century origins, we polished and restored its original terrazzo flooring, long hidden away. Sunny moment… [See all 10 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/traction-architecture-pfvwus-pf~1761642935) ## Community Q&A **Q: what is the flooring?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: The flooring is the original terrazzo. We found it when we removed the carpeting and we restored it. **Q: Bar stools** *(in Photo Questions)* Love these bar stools! Brand?? A: Modernica **Q: Love the green chairs - where did you find them?** *(in Photo Questions)* We recently bought a BIG CHILL jadeite green refrigerator and these would be perfect! Thank you for any information you can share. A: The green bar stools are by Modernica. **Q: Loft Ladder** *(in Photo Questions)* Will you share where the amazing ladder can be bought? Thank you. A: The ladder was designed by us and built by a local fabricator. **Q: Would love to know the manufacturer of the ladder. Beautiful project!** *(in Photo Questions)* A: We designed the ladder and worked with a local fabricator to build it. **Q: Could you tell me if the board and batten is James Hardie Light Mist?** *(in Photo Questions)* Thanks A: The board and batten is a James Hardie product. The paint color is Sherwin Williams Sea Salt. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-17.*