The Tampa Museum of Art has announced the start of its expansion project, beginning with the construction of new dog parks.
This August, crews will start relocating the dog park at the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to make room for the museum‘s new addition.
Full construction on the expansion project is due to start this autumn, with a groundbreaking celebration planned for early October.
“This marks an important milestone in our centennial expansion,” said Michael Tomor, executive director of the Tampa Museum of Art.
“It opens the way for the physical groundwork to begin for inviting spaces that reflect our city’s interest in the arts and support meaningful cultural experiences.”
Building work on the new dog parks will take around four to five months. The new parks will offer separate spaces for small and large dogs, and the existing dog park will remain open until the new spaces are ready.
A vibrant hub of art and culture in Tampa
The Tampa Museum of Art’s 77,904-square-foot expansion was announced in November 2021 and is managed by the Beck Group.
To date, more than $100 million has been raised to fund the development, including a $28m lead gift from Tampa real estate developer and philanthropist Dick Corbett.
“Our centennial campaign has focused solely on the future of the museum in service to the Tampa Bay community,” said Cornelia Corbett, campaign chairwoman.
“The construction of the dog park is the first step to bringing the dream of a world-class museum to Tampa.”
Designed by Weiss/Manfredi, the expansion will transform the museum into a vibrant hub of art and culture, with a new building connected to the existing one, which has already been renovated.
The new addition will include a 150-seat auditorium, an art lounge, a dining space, a large event space, a proposed rooftop space, and new outdoor sculpture areas.
Images courtesy of the Tampa Museum of Art
