New Dali museum to take shape

Friday, December 12, 2008

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A one-story warehouse when it open in 1982, the Dali museum and the downtown waterfront now draw 200,000 visitors, many of those specifically to visit the museum.

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A new era for the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg begins today.

At a groundbreaking ceremony at 10:30 a.m., the new Dali Museum will be dedicated just south of the Mahaffey Theater within the Progress Energy Center for the Arts.

The new museum, a $35-million, 66,450-square foot facility, is projected to open in late 2010 or early 2011. The city of St. Petersburg has provided a 99-year lease for the new museum.

"It's going to be a beautiful building with fantastic amenities,' said Hank Hine, Dali Museum Director. "As well as a great collection of Dali's art, which is ranked the top collection of art in the American South."

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A one-story warehouse when it open in 1982, the museum and the downtown waterfront now draw 200,000 visitors, many of those specifically to visit the museum.

The new structure, being built by architectural firm HOK, will include classrooms, space for temporary exhibits, a community room available for rent and an indoor-outdoor café. The facility also will be more secure as the building will be built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane.

The new museum also figures to be a boost to St. Petersburg's economic and aesthetic profile.

"This is fantastic news for the area economically,' Hine said. "Because this will be driving important jobs and money to the area in this economic downturn."