This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.
VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Museum of Art is endeavoring to renovate and expand its footprint in Riverside Park.
The museum — established in 1986 at 3001 Riverside Park Drive — hopes the project will accommodate its growing number of visitors and help the museum better withstand major storms.
“Parts of the building are obsolete,” said museum Deputy Director Suzanne Seldes. “The museum needs a purpose-built facility which ensures the safety, security and legacy of our collections and programs.”
The plan presented to the City Council Aug, 12 includes construction of a two-story building on a raised, terraced plateau; expanding building space from 76,000 to 88,000 square feet and gallery space from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet; adding 12,000 square feet of outdoor program space; and creating a pathway to the museum.
Moreover, the museum will return 1½ acres of green space to city-owned Riverside Park.
Museum officials did not announce the total cost of the two-year renovation project.
The City Council unanimously passed the museum’s request to add an additional 0.6 acres to its lease in the park.
Design of the new building — created by Allied Works of Portland, Oregon, and Brooklyn, New York — aims to fit in seamlessly with the vibrant surroundings of the park and provide views of the Indian River Lagoon.
“We want to create an integrated and cohesive structure within Riverside Park,” Vero Beach Museum of Art Executive Director Brady Roberts told the City Council. “We don’t want a cookie-cutter urban design that does not represent Vero Beach.”
Storm-surge scare
The current building sits at 7 feet above sea level, and the land around it is only 3 feet above sea level, making it susceptible to storm surges, said Roberts. The 2004 hurricanes had a maximum storm surge of 6 feet, a scare the museum staff has not forgotten. The new plateau is expected to be 9 feet above sea level.
The museum’s current buildings were built in 1986 and 1999, and, in addition to their location in a flood plain, require about $500,000 annually in maintenance, officials said.
Museum officials next are to present a site plan to the Planning and Zoning Board and then return to the City Council for approval. Seldes expects that to take up to eight weeks, during which time fundraising will continue.
Museum representatives said they would wait until after the City Council’s site plan approval before announcing the cost of the project. The museum will pay the entire cost, they said.
The museum sees more than 70,000 visitors per year, and is the best-attended small museum in the country, with a budget of less than $12 million, according to Remuseum, an independent research group which promotes innovation among art museums.
“Our goal is to see the museum flourish not only now, but into the future,” said Seldes. “This project ensures that.”
Nick Slater is TCPalm’s Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at Nick.Slater@tcpalm.com and 224-830-2875.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach Museum of Art eyes extensive renovations amid growing visitors, hurricane threats
Reporting by Nick Slater, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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