ICA Miami has selected architecture and design firm Gensler to plan a 30,000-square-foot expansion in the Miami Design District. The project is intended to add exhibition and education space, create a dedicated home for the museum’s permanent collection, and provide new places for public programs and gatherings. The plans include changes inside and outside the building.
Key takeaways
- Gensler will design ICA Miami’s 30,000-square-foot expansion.
- Plans include a third-floor venue for public programs, as well as updated entrances, a facade, courtyards and landscaped outdoor areas.
- The museum says its privately funded, $40 million capital campaign is nearing completion.
A broader home for exhibitions and programs
The expansion is designed to give ICA Miami more room for exhibitions, education and community events. A flexible venue on the third floor is planned to host lectures, symposia, performances and other public programs. The museum also expects to provide dedicated space for its permanent collection while continuing to present a broader schedule of exhibitions and events.
Gensler’s work will extend beyond the interior to the building’s entrance and facade. Outdoor plans call for shaded courtyards and sculptural landscapes, creating additional areas for visitors to gather.
Funding and project support
ICA Miami said its entirely private $40 million capital campaign is close to completion. The campaign funded the museum’s 2024 acquisition and supports the design and renovation. Early backing has come from private foundations, individual donors and the museum’s Board of Trustees.
Separately, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded ICA Miami a $5 million grant for digital innovation efforts. The museum’s executive director and chief curator, Alex Gartenfeld, said Gensler had engaged with the project’s goals and the operational and program needs that will complement ICA Miami’s existing facilities.
The museum’s role in the Design District
Founded in 2014, ICA Miami opened its current home at 61 NE 41st Street in 2017. The museum offers free admission and says it has welcomed more than 1 million visitors and supported more than 1,000 artists through exhibitions and acquisitions.
The planned expansion would build on that public-facing mission by adding space for the museum’s collection and programming. Further project details, including a construction schedule, were not included in the announcement.