Enhanced Visitor Experience

Serving the Tampa Museum of Art’s diverse audience, the dynamic sequence of interconnected interior and outdoor spaces in the expansion and renovation support a wide range of visitor experiences – from art lovers to Riverwalk strollers, from school children to gala guests. The design of the north entry plaza and expanded south terrace aims to create a more defined entry sequence from both the Poe Garage and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. These two spaces will provide a welcoming first impression of the Museum and the south side will also feature an indoor/outdoor restaurant. The new lobby will be a centralized place for dining, orientation, and temporary events.

As a continuation of Tampa’s Riverwalk, a sloped walk will bring pedestrians down to the river edge from the ground floor level. Existing Dog Parks will be designed within a close perimeter of the park, and an outdoor amphitheater outside the Museum’s new auditorium will serve as a shaded place for people to gather. With new native plantings and shade trees, the Museum’s ground floor terrace will be accessible from Riverwalk. The goal of the landscape enhancement is to shape a seamless and integrated public experience around the Museum and the park.