The Dalí Museum is getting ready for a serious glow-up on St. Petersburg’s waterfront. On Thursday, the downtown institution released new renderings and a video tour of a planned $65 million, 35,000-square-foot expansion that will stack in interactive galleries, a learning center and flexible event space alongside the existing landmark building. Construction is slated to begin in fall 2026, with the expanded spaces expected to open in 2028, and the museum says the current building will stay open while the work happens.
According to The Dalí Museum, the new addition will extend from the south side of the current structure and is designed to “introduce flexible gallery environments for experiential exhibitions that blend art and technology.” Plans also call for a dedicated K–12 learning center and community-focused spaces. The museum’s announcement notes early support from Visit St. Pete–Clearwater’s From Visitors With Love program and says a 3D model of the proposal went on view last Saturday as part of a special exhibition.
Design and the team behind it
The expansion reunites the museum with The Beck Group, the firm that built The Dalí’s signature 2011 building. Beck has again been tapped to design and build the project and consulted with original architect Yann Weymouth of PBK to keep a cohesive look and feel across the campus. Trevor Lamphier, Beck’s design principal, described an exterior concept called “Reveal” that will “play with expectation” and create moments of discovery for visitors, according to The Beck Group.
Timeline and funding
Site preparation is scheduled to begin this summer, with an estimated groundbreaking in fall 2026 and an anticipated opening in September 2028, according to the The Dalí Museum fact sheet. The project cost is listed at about $65 million, with initial public support coming from Visit St. Pete–Clearwater alongside private donations, corporate sponsorships and grants. In other words, this is not just a new wing; it is a major civic investment.
See the models now
For those who prefer their future museums in miniature, the plans are already on display. Local coverage notes that the newly released renderings and short video tour preview interior concepts and new terraces ahead of any concrete being poured. The Tampa Bay Times reports that a 3D model of the proposal is on view as part of “The Architecture of The Dalí” exhibition, giving visitors a tabletop walkthrough of how the waterfront campus could look once the expansion opens.
What it means for St. Pete
The Dalí’s project materials say the museum already generates more than $100 million in annual economic impact and has contributed over $1 billion to the region since 2011. Looking ahead, the expansion is projected to drive more than $3 billion in economic impact over the next decade. Brian Lowack of Visit St. Pete–Clearwater called the museum “a cultural engine for this community” in the announcement, adding that reinvested tourism funds help support local jobs and bolster the area’s appeal to visitors, according to The Dalí Museum.
Business Observer coverage notes that the museum plans to remain open throughout construction and will phase work to minimize disruption to visitors and school programs. For now, the renderings, video and 3D model offer the clearest peek at how the waterfront site will evolve by 2028, and the museum’s expansion pages lay out additional images and FAQs for curious visitors and would-be donors.
