The architectural style originally chosen for the city of Temple Terrace was Mediterranean-Revival. For the first phase of the development in 1921, Tampa architect M. Leo Elliott (whose work also includes Centro Asturiano de Tampa and Old Tampa City Hall) designed the first eight houses and all of the public buildings. In 1926, New York architect Dwight James Baum designed many more residences. Other notable projects by Baum include the Ca' d'Zan (John Ringling's Sarasota home), the Hotel El Verona in Sarasota, and the West Side YMCA in New York City.

Today, twelve buildings designed by Elliott still stand in Temple Terrace (making up the largest collection of his work anywhere) and forty-two of Baum's houses make up the largest collection of his work in the Southeast.

Mid-Century Modern architecture in Temple Terrace
Temple Terrace struggled through the 1930s along with the rest of Florida. Building activity began to pick up again after World War II, consequently there exist today some excellent mid-century modern homes and buildings. At least three were designed by members of the renowned Sarasota School of Architecture. Two houses located on South Riverhills Drive were designed in the 1950s by John Randal McDonald AIA, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. And at least one house in the city was designed by architect Mark Hampton.

Dwight James Baum

M. Leo Elliott