Tampa art museum's final touches revealed

The final design adds an ''urban staircase'' and other elements.

[Times photo: Artist conception] The latest artist rendering of the museum.

By BABITA PERSAUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 19, 2003

TAMPA -- Eight months ago, architect Rafael Vinoly introduced the "urban canopy" to the Tampa Bay area.

Now, behold the "urban staircase."

From the ground floor of the new Tampa Museum of Art, the concrete steps will rise several levels. On one side will be galleries. On the other, views of the University of Tampa, the Hillsborough River and a lush park filled with sculpture and walkways.

Those features were among the key elements presented Tuesday when Vinoly's team unveiled its final design for the downtown museum. Vinoly himself wasn't there. He was snowbound in New York City.

But others were happy to speak for him.

"I think we have a building that is incredibly dynamic and a landmark," said Emily Kass, the museum's director.

Since the initial plans were presented in June, the museum's design has changed significantly. Drastic alterations were made after community leaders complained about the urban canopy, the 100-foot high trellis roof that extended across Ashley Drive to surrounding buildings.

The roof is now now smaller, and the support poles on Ashley Drive, another point of contention, are gone.

The latest design also does away with outside escalators, but adds the urban staircase.

Kass welcomed that last change. She said it reminds her of 19th century museums that had grand staircases with lions at the top. For those who don't want to climb the shallow steps, the museum will have two high-speed elevators and a group elevator.

The other significant change is to the canopy, which now hangs over the back of the museum at a sharp angle, like a border. The new design provides additional shade from the sun.

The canopy is still large -- 100 feet tall and 660 feet long, about the size of two football fields. It will be made out of aluminium and supported by concrete beams coated in graffiti-proof glaze. The open spaces in the trellis will be 16 to 18 inches.

"We are really pleased with the level of refinement and elegance this has taken on," Kass said.

The new design has been tested to ensure it can withstand the rigors of Florida weather. Vinoly's team studied floods in Tampa and will build the galleries so that no piece of art will touch water if a flood occurs.

A model of the museum was taken to Canada, where it was subjected to a wind tunnel test. The winds were sufficiently fierce that "you can say, yes, it is hurricane-proof," said Mateo Paiva, who is heading the Tampa project for Vinoly's New York-based firm.

Other changes were smaller:

Entrances to the backyard park were enhanced. Pedestrians will still be able to see into the park through the glass walls of the museum.

Glass and retail space along Ashley Drive was increased. Kass said this will "activate Ashley Drive."

Detail was added to the interior, including stadium seating for the auditorium and the cavernous foyer.

Some facets of the project still must be hammered out, including the art park in the back of the museum. A master plan shows walkways through grass and trees, and a place for sculptures to be displayed. Vinoly's contract includes a grand concept for that park, but the details will be worked out by landscape artists and the city's parks department, Kass said.

The museum wants to lure art festivals, including the Gasparilla Arts Festival and Shakespeare in the Park, and other events that used to take place at Curtis Hixon Park.

Tampa Mayor Dick Greco said he was pleased with the redesign and with Vinoly, who is working on a Kennedy Center extension in Washington, D.C. and is part of Team Think, which is one of two finalists for the World Trade Center memorial.

Vinoly's twin towers design uses a latticework much like his Tampa concept.

"The fact that he is one of the most eminent architects in the world is very helpful to us," Greco said.

Ron Rotella, Greco's special consultant, said the presentation went on Tuesday without Vinoly because the models and renderings were ready. And donors were eager to see the plans, said Greco, who wouldn't say how much has been raised.

He said fundraising specifics will be released in early March, but said at least two donors have offered pledges of $1-million or more.

The price tag for the museum could reach as much as $44-million. The capital campaign hopes to raise about $25-million for construction, programs and endowments. Another $27-million will come from the Community Investment Tax.

Greco said construction could start in March, or early April at the latest. "We're excited," he said. "Everything is on the go."

The evolution

June 2002: Initial design includes an "urban canopy," a 100-foot high roof extending across four lanes of Ashley Drive to surrounding buildings.

September 2002: Poles on Ashley Drive removed from the design.

November 2002: Span of urban canopy scaled back significantly.

Tuesday: Urban staircase added. Canopy now hangs over back of museum.

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