ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Dali Museum unveiled its plans Wednesday for a $65 million expansion in downtown St. Petersburg, according to a news release.

Construction on the 35,000-square-foot expansion will begin this year, with a fall groundbreaking planned, the museum said. It’s expected to open in 2028.

The Dalí will remain open throughout construction.

The Beck Group, which constructed the museum’s landmark 2011 building, has been selected to design and build the expansion.

Beck Architecture consulted with internationally recognized architect Yann Weymouth, FAIA, of PBK, architect of the museum’s original award-winning building, on the design of the expansion.

The project includes a new exterior, flexible gallery environments for experiential exhibitions that blend art and technology, a dedicated learning center serving K-12 students and lifelong learners, and community-focused spaces for social, corporate, and cultural events.

“We are creating a museum that will stand with the great cultural institutions of the world, prepared to meet the expectations of today’s visitors and the curiosity of those who will walk through these doors decades from now,” Hank Hine, the museum’s executive director, said. “This is a defining moment for our institution and for St. Petersburg. It’s not about being bigger; it’s about being bolder. For more than four decades, The Dalí has led through innovation, empowering visitors to see differently and think expansively. This next chapter allows us to move beyond existing limitations and create space, intellectually and physically, for deeper learning, more ambitious experiences and broader access.”

Since opening in 1982, The Dalí has welcomed more than 10 million visitors. Following the debut of its landmark building in 2011, the museum generated more than $1 billion in economic impact for the area.

The expansion will be partially funded by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater through its From Visitors with Love initiative, a direct reinvestment of tourist development tax funds to the arts.

“The Dalí Museum is a cultural engine for this community and a cornerstone of St. Petersburg’s global identity,” Brian Lowack, president and CEO of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. said. “Investments like this strengthen the identity that defines our region and attracts visitors from around the world.”

A 3D model of the proposed expansion will be on view beginning May 2, 2026, as part of “The Architecture of The Dalí,” a special exhibition exploring the Museum’s architectural evolution and future vision.

More information about the expansion, as well as renderings, can be found at DaliMuseumExpansion.org.

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