Johnston Marklee to Design Bass Museum's Collins Park Expansion

• Location: 2100 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, Florida, within Collins Park
• Project: New pavilion adding gallery, patio and outdoor event space
• Size: 22,000 square feet of existing parking area to be redeveloped
• Architect: Johnston Marklee
• Funding: $20.1 million in city-issued municipal bond funds
• Status: Architect selected; timeline, budget and preliminary designs have not been announced

What the Bass Museum Is Planning for Its Expansion

The Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach has selected Los Angeles-based architecture firm Johnston Marklee to lead the design of a new pavilion on approximately 22,000 square feet of space currently used for parking in Collins Park. The expansion is intended to provide additional space for the museum’s growing permanent collection while creating new outdoor areas for visitors, screenings and events. The project will build on the museum’s existing campus and its architectural history in Collins Park. Johnston Marklee will develop the new pavilion as an extension of the campus concept established by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Arata Isozaki in the 1990s. The museum’s campus also includes the historic Art Deco pavilion designed by Russell Pancost in the 1930s.

What the New Pavilion Will Include

The project is planned around three primary elements: an elevated gallery, an outdoor patio and a dedicated stage area for outdoor programming. The elevated gallery will provide space to display the Bass Museum’s expanding permanent collection while addressing South Florida’s environmental conditions. The design will incorporate resiliency considerations related to flooding, extreme heat and hurricanes. At ground level, a patio will combine shaded and open-air areas. Within the patio, a stage will accommodate outdoor film screenings, performances and other events, giving the museum additional opportunities to bring programming outside. The expansion will also increase public access to the museum’s programs and artworks while creating a stronger connection between the institution and Collins Park.

What Johnston Marklee Brings to the Project

Johnston Marklee has experience designing and adapting cultural institutions, including the Menil Drawing Institute in Houston and a major renovation of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. The firm has also worked on gallery spaces in Los Angeles and converted Roy Lichtenstein’s former Manhattan studio for the Whitney Museum of American Art’s Independent Study Program.

“We are thrilled to reimagine the southwest corner of Collins Park for The Bass,” Mark Lee, founding partner of Johnston Marklee, said in a statement.

Sharon Johnston, another founding partner, said the design process will focus on the relationship between the building, the surrounding park and the broader urban setting.

“Through careful analysis of light and shadow, space and volume, and the surrounding park and urban context, we are planning a transformative project that will increase public access to the museum’s programs and artworks,” Johnston said.

What the Museum’s Previous Expansion Added

The new pavilion follows the Bass Museum’s most recent major renovation and expansion, which took place from 2015 to 2017. The $12 million project added approximately 10,000 square feet of exhibition and public space and significantly upgraded the museum’s existing facilities. The forthcoming expansion represents another step in the institution’s effort to increase exhibition capacity and create more flexible spaces for public programming.

What Funding Has Been Secured for the Project

The Bass Museum was awarded $20.1 million in city-issued funds in November 2022 through a municipal bond approved by Miami Beach voters. The funding was intended to support the construction of a new wing as part of the museum’s long-term expansion plans. Silvia Karman Cubiñá, the museum’s executive director, previously described the expansion as an important part of the institution’s future.

“Having just celebrated our 60th year, we are firmly focused on the future, and this expansion is a vital part of that vision, allowing us to deepen our engagement with artists and our community by creating new, flexible spaces to gather, reflect and experience art in meaningful ways,” Cubiñá said.

What Comes Next for the Miami Beach Museum Project

Johnston Marklee’s selection moves the project into its next design phase, but several major development details remain outstanding. The museum has not announced a construction timeline, project budget or preliminary designs. Once completed, the pavilion is expected to expand the Bass Museum’s exhibition capacity while adding new outdoor gathering and event space in a prominent section of Collins Park. The project will also continue the museum’s role as a major cultural destination in Miami Beach, particularly during the annual Art Basel Miami Beach season.