The Dalí Museum unveiled plans Wednesday for a $65 million expansion. This will add roughly 35,000 square feet to its downtown St. Petersburg campus. Construction begins in fall 2026. The new space opens in 2028.
The expansion will sit on the south side of the current building at 1 Dali Blvd. Plans include flexible gallery spaces for immersive exhibitions that blend art with technology, plus a learning center for K-12 students and adult education programs. Event spaces for gatherings and corporate functions are also part of the design.
“We are creating a museum that will stand with the great cultural institutions of the world,” said Hank Hine, executive director, according to the St. Pete Catalyst. “This is a defining moment for our institution and for St. Petersburg. It’s not about being bigger; it’s about being bolder.”
The Beck Group will design and construct the addition. This is the same company that built the current museum building in 2011. Architect Yann Weymouth of Harvard Jolly/PBK consulted on the new design to connect with the existing structure.
Hine said the expansion will allow the institution to move past current limitations. It creates space for deeper learning. More ambitious experiences become possible. The facility will stay open throughout construction.
Much of the funding comes from Visit St. Pete-Clearwater through its From Visitors with Love program, which reinvests tourist development tax funds into the area. The initiative awarded a $25 million grant in 2024. Private donations will cover the remaining costs, along with corporate sponsorships and grants from various sources.
“The Dalí Museum is a cultural engine for this community and a cornerstone of St. Petersburg’s global identity,” said Brian Lowack, president and CEO of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.
Since opening in St. Petersburg in 1982, the waterfront attraction has welcomed more than 10 million visitors from around the world. The current building has generated over $1 billion in economic impact for the region since 2011. Officials project the expansion could generate more than $3 billion over the next decade.
The collection houses more than 2,400 works by Salvador Dalí. This makes it one of the largest collections of the artist’s work outside Spain. Trevor Lamphier, design principal at The Beck Group, said the architecture builds on the visual language of the current building.
A 3D model of the proposed expansion will go on display May 2 as part of The Architecture of The Dalí exhibition, which will explore the institution’s architectural history and future plans for growth and development.