Florida Construction News staff writer
The City of Sarasota commissioners approved an agreement on May 20 with world renowned architecture firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Inc. to design a new performing arts center at The Bay.
The $36.9 million contract includes a concept design with building costs to be presented on Nov. 30, followed by multiple design and construction milestones over an estimated 60-month period.
“This is a critical step with this process,” said Mayor Liz Alpert. “We’re looking forward to getting the information we need with the initial design concept so we can come together as a community and support this vision, which has always been included with The Bay master plan.”
The new performing arts center is a 50-50 public-private funding partnership between the City of Sarasota and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation. The Foundation announced earlier this month it will fund the initial concept design phase as part of its 50% contribution.
“We are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with Renzo Piano Building Workshop and are grateful to the City Commission for their leadership and vision,” said Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, CEO of Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation. “We will be delighted to share initial designs with the community which we are confident will ignite the imagination and energize our residents.”
The Architect Selection Committee recommended Renzo Piano Building Workshop in June 2023 after a Request for Qualifications yielded 43 submissions from interested firms around the world. Sarasota-based Sweet Sparkman Architects will be the Architect of Record for the project.
“We are excited to embark on this great adventure with the City of Sarasota, Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, and our new partners, Sweet Sparkman Architects. We envision a building influenced by the water, Floridian nature and the movement of the sun, which gently connects with the natural setting of The Bay Park creating a significant outdoor space for people. Places are all about the people who inhabit them, and we would like to extend our gratitude to the Sarasota community for their support and interest in our work,” stated Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
An economic impact study released last week anticipates a new performing arts center will generate over $150 million in annual economic impact – exceeding the economic impact of the current Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall by 30 percent. The study was prepared for the Foundation by HR&A Advisors, a real estate and economic development firm.
