Wildlife art, such as Tiger in Water by Matthew Hillier, will be featured in the Museum.
The James Collection also includes works by local Florida artists that the
museum will feature, along with exhibitions and educational programs revolving
around wildlife and the history of the American West, as they also exemplify the
core values of action, fortitude, heritage and integrity that guided Tom and Mary
in their acquisitions. The museum will become a cultural destination for all.
The museum will be located at 100 Central Avenue, and the work on the
reconstruction of the building by the Beck Group has begun. In support of the
Jameses’ efforts, the City of St. Petersburg has agreed to lease two floors of aboveground
parking to the museum for 50 years, recognizing the contribution it will
be for the city. The 80,000 square-foot museum will have a 120-seat theater and a
6,000 square-foot event space that can accommodate 500 people. Additionally, the
museum will host a store and café. Yann Weymouth of the St. Pete Design Group
will be the lead architect, as he was for the Dalí Museum and the Museum of Fine
Arts’ recent addition. Yann was also chief of design for the Louvre Pyramid in
Paris under I.M. Pei.
44 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE
| SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
The new museum will
be at 1st Street and
Central Avenue
in downtown
St. Petersburg.