Morean Arts Center Plans Five-Story Expansion in Downtown St. Petersburg

The Morean Arts Center is moving forward with plans for a major expansion in downtown St. Petersburg that would bring its arts programs and the Chihuly Collection under one roof.

New renderings were revealed Sept. 24 for the proposed five-story expansion at 719 Central Ave., which would be built on the center’s existing surface parking lot near the corner of Central Avenue and 8th Street.

The project is part of a first phase estimated at $34 million and would expand the Morean’s gallery, education and community spaces while creating a new home for the Chihuly Collection, which is currently located across the street at 720 Central Ave., according to St. Pete Rising.

The building is being designed by Wannemacher Jensen Architects and will feature a white exterior with vertical fins and a curved entrance inspired by the forms and colors of Dale Chihuly’s glasswork.

The first floor will include a 4,100-square-foot exhibition gallery, gift shop, retail space, a glass studio and a multipurpose room. The Chihuly Collection would occupy much of the second floor, while the upper floors would include classrooms, artist galleries, common areas and administrative offices, according to Tampa Bay Business and Wealth Magazine.

“We are at a consequential moment in the evolution of the Arts Center,” Arts Center Executive Director Howayda Affan told St. Pete Rising. “This redevelopment is about far more than expanding our physical footprint; it is an opportunity to reimagine how an arts institution can serve a growing and increasingly dynamic city.”

The project would consolidate several of the organization’s offerings into one location, including contemporary art exhibitions, the Chihuly Collection, education programs and community initiatives.