A Museum for the City of Orlando
Brooks + Scarpa with KMF Architects design for the 40,000 square-foot museum expansion of the Mennello Museum, Orlando.
The $20 million expansion includes a 40,000 square-foot museum facility integrated around the current 12,000 square-foot museum building with more number and quality of programmes, opportunities, and amenities to better serve the growing audiences, creating a cultural destination on Lake Formosa designed to preserve and reimagine its green space, an inclusive space for the highest calibre of exhibitions and programmes to best attract audiences. In a special presentation, preliminary plans and architectural models were unveiled by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and museum director Shannon Fitzgerald. 
Lawrence Scarpa’s vision aligned with the museum’s goals for a design that is both futuristic and timeless. The design mirrors the objective of the artwork inside: It tells a story and furthers the Museum’s mission to be a place of education, culture, and inspiration, say the Museum authorities. More than just a building, it is a civic place for social interaction, bringing people closer to art, each other and to nature, providing an opportunity for new, immersive art experiences. The building is organized as a series of highly engaging spaces where the Museum’s mission of using art to connect people to the world around them can unfold. 
The museum’s founder, Michael A. Mennello says, “My late wife, Marilyn and I opened the museum in November 1998. We were avid art collectors who had a dream to create an intimate cultural gem. Never in a million years did I dream I would be alive to see our museum become a global destination for world-class American Art for all to enjoy.” Museum Expansion Architect Team, Brooks + Scarpa is a collective of architects, designers, and creative thinkers dedicated to enhancing the human experience. They have completed some of the most honored buildings and have won many prestigious design awards, including the Smithsonian Cooper- Hewitt National Design Award and the American Institute of Architects National Firm Award, 
KMF Architects has been active in Orlando for twenty years, bringing quality vision and implementation to a diverse portfolio of award-winning projects. A knowledge and passion for local history and infrastructure has led to a meaningful interaction with the community in Orlando and has left a substantial impact in helping to inform its future. Brooks + Scarpa and KMF Architects have had a professional creative relationship for over a decade, leading to award-winning solutions on diverse programme types. 
The Mennello Museum of American Art is owned and operated by the City of Orlando, located on the shore of Lake Formosa in Orlando’s Loch Haven Cultural Park. The museum provides residents and visitors welcoming opportunities to understand and value creativity through innovative experiences with art further connecting it to nature and communal gathering.
Pictures Courtesy: BROOKS + SCARPA
