21
If you’ve been anywhere near downtown
lately, you’ve no doubt seen all the
construction. The museum parking lot
to the north, facing the Manatee River, is
being developed into a multi-level, multimillion
dollar expansion and should open
in the summer of 2019. This expansion,
which includes the North Education Center
and The Mosaic Backyard Universe, will
be an architectural marvel filled with
ever-changing, engaging, and limitless
experiences designed to enhance the
museum’s education mission.
The artist rendering of the new space
shows a glass, brick and wood creation
sure to drop some jaws.
Fawley Bryant
Architecture has
been managing
and leading all
phases of design
and assisting
in construction
adm i n i s t ra t i o n
with the construction
manager. With ofces in
Bradenton and Sarasota,
Fawley Bryant creates
extraordinary projects by
bringing together a unique
variety of people, services
and technology. In this case,
Doug Mund of dmdg2 focused
on designing the museum’s
new spaces to help fulfill the
organization’s mission. Fawley
Bryant and Mund/dmdg2
collaborated on the project
with Fawley Bryant
designing the building and
dmdg2 providing exhibit and
lighting design.
“One of the true joys of our profession
as Architects and Designers is having
the opportunity to create designs that
educate those who use and interact with
the space,” says Stu Henderson, Principal
and Director of Design at Fawley Bryant
Architecture. “With the South Florida
Museum project, we have been very
fortunate to work with a talented team of
designers, builders, educators, and the
Museum’s board to develop a wonderful
space that children and adults can enjoy
and learn in together. It is projects like
the South Florida Museum expansion
that bring elevated levels of excitement
into our ofce and remind us why we love
what we do”
Wil l is A. Smi th
Construction, Inc.,
is the building
c o n t r a c t o r .
Headquartered
i n Lakewood
Ranch, Wi l l is
Smith has been
managing
public and private projects in Manatee
County for more than 30 years and
has extensive experience with museum
construction and renovation. David
Otterness is Project Vice President &
Executive overseeing the South
Florida Museum project.
He s a i d : “Wi l l i s Smi t h
Construction, in partnership
with the South Florida Museum,
take great dignity in building the
foundations for the new Mosaic
Backyard Universe and courtyard
expansion. Not only will this be
an educational facility for future
generations within the community,
but also abroad. The expansion is
the center focus of the entire Bradenton
redevelopment project within the core of
the downtown district.”
The North Education Center will house
classrooms, multi-purpose areas, and
new exhibition space in 12,600 square
feet. Plus, there is 15,300 square feet of
outdoor space overlooking the Manatee
River, which will be perfect for outdoor
programs and special events.
The 5,000 square-foot Mosaic Backyard
Universe will offer the younger museumgoer
a chance to do just what Dr. Sugg
wanted visitors to do, get engrossed in
the exhibits and truly discover new things
through what the museum describes
as “an immersive STEAM learning
environment for children in pre-K through
grade two that will be modeled on a
typical backyard setting. It will be a place
for hands-on exploration and investigation
where kids can interact with the simple
wonders of nature - rocks, soil, water,
weather, and living plants and animals.”
We think kids ages 2-to-102 will enjoy that
The museum is open and fully functioning
during the remodel and they recently
released an exciting new way to see the
existing exhibits, even for those who think
they’ve seen them before.