NORTH MIAMI, FL.- On Tuesday, March 8, the North Miami City Council took a major step towards ensuring the Museum of Contemporary Art’s continued future as a leader in the international contemporary art scene. The Council voted unanimously to enter into a contract with
Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects, New York, for the architectural and engineering services for the expansion of the museum. The expansion will more than double
MOCA’s overall space to over 50,000 square feet.
MOCA has built its reputation on its innovative exhibitions, world-renowned permanent collection, education programs, and special events that maximize the use of space in its current building and surrounding plaza. The 27,000 square-foot expansion will triple the museum’s current exhibition space. With 16,000 square feet of galleries, MOCA will be able to present multiple exhibitions continuously throughout the year and have ample space to show its permanent collection that is distinguished by the many large-scale works and installations in its holdings. The expansion will also create a dedicated wing for The MOCA Art Institute, the museum’s dynamic arts and communications initiative that currently serves 20,000 students of all ages annually with exciting classes and programs in art history, inter-disciplinary and museum studies, studio art, photography, writing and graphic arts. The project will also include new art storage space and enhanced public areas. Approximately 7,500 square feet of existing space will be renovated to enhance MOCA’s current amenities and improve the functionality of the front plaza.
The MOCA expansion project will be sustainable, by designing to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications, an important component in the city of North Miami’s comprehensive master plan.
Through a competitive bid process, the New York-based firm Gwathmey Siegel & Associated Architects, LLC, in association with RJ Heisenbottle Architects, Miami, won the contract for design services, which are not to exceed $1.15 million, funded through the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency. Gwathmey Siegel & Associates designed MOCA’s original building, which opened in February 1996, and now the legacy of the late Charles Gwathmey will live on with the MOCA expansion.
Overall, the MOCA expansion project is inclusive of many phases including, schematic design, design development, contract documents, building and permitting and the construction administration. Completion is anticipated for August 2013. The estimated cost for the overall project is $14 million.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), under the leadership of its Executive Director and Chief Curator, Bonnie Clearwater, has grown into an internationally renowned institution that has made North Miami a regular stop on the art circuit, and an essential hub for culture and education. In the 15 years since it opened, MOCA has become a significant asset to the City of North Miami, serving as a destination for 80,000 visitors annually.
MOCA is truly one of the pillars of North Miami. Not only is it an economic engine that is attracting unique businesses, art galleries and restaurants to the 125th Street corridor, “ explains North Miami Mayor Andre D. Pierre. “The world visits North Miami to enjoy MOCA, not only for its art on view, but also for its impact on the community through creative and effective outreach programs.”
“We thank the City of North Miami for its extraordinary vision and continued dedication to making MOCA a major cultural destination and resource,” said Michael Collins, Chairman of MOCA’s Board of Trustees.
