TAMPA Fla. – The Tampa Museum of Art, alongside the City of Tampa, welcomed city leaders and downtown stakeholders today to celebrate the first visible steps toward its Centennial Expansion project, as construction crews have completed relocating the Tampa Dog Run at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to make room for the museum’s new footprint.
“Seeing the open footprint for the expansion fills our whole team with renewed excitement for what this project will bring,” said Michael Tomor, the Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director of the Tampa Museum of Art. “We are so pleased that the dog park relocation project was able to achieve two important outcomes: making the park a more accessible amenity for downtown residents, and laying the groundwork for a future where an expanded Tampa Museum of Art can serve more people, present more ambitious programming, and strengthen Tampa’s position as a leading arts destination.”
The New York-based design team of WEISS/MANFREDI Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism, which is designing the Museum’s expansion, was also responsible for the design of another urban dog park, Hunter’s Point South Waterfront Park in New York City.
“We are one step closer to building a Museum that reflects the creativity, energy, and generosity that can be found in Tampa,” said Cornelia Corbett, Campaign Co-Chairwoman. “The newly cleared footprint is an exciting milestone because it turns years of planning and collective commitment into reality. We are determined to build a world-class Museum that will be accessible, welcoming, and vibrant for generations of visitors to come.”
The Tampa Museum of Art’s expansion plans were announced in November 2021. The Museum is funding the ambitious 77,904-square-foot expansion project through its ongoing Centennial Campaign, a comprehensive construction and endowment effort anchored by a $28 million lead gift from Dick Corbett, a Tampa real estate developer and philanthropist who has been a Museum patron for decades. His lead gift is the single largest private donation ever made to a public art museum in Florida.
To date, more than $100 million in generous support has been provided by individuals, families and corporations, as well as the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, and the State of Florida.
The Tampa Museum of Art’s Centennial Expansion is moving forward as a phased project. The Museum is now focused on site preparations, fundraising, and construction planning before announcing a groundbreaking celebration. The campaign’s fundraising efforts will continue during construction.
The expansion will transform the Museum into a vibrant hub of art and culture. Designed as a crystalline pier extending the museum to the edge of the river, the new expansion will create a series of interconnected multifunctional spaces. The new addition will include a 150-seat auditorium, an art lounge, food services and dining space, a large event space, and a proposed rooftop space, all of which will provide flexible settings for a wide range of art and cultural programming. The expansion will also feature new outdoor sculpture areas, bringing art to the redeveloped public spaces along Curtis Hixon Park and the Tampa Riverwalk. The project is managed by Ellison Advisors. The construction manager is the Beck Group.
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