ICA Miami plans 2016 opening in Design District

Norman Braman
Norman Braman

Miami’s fast-growing Design District is adding the ICA Miami museum to its development roster in 2016.

Funded by philanthropists Norman and Irma Braman, the Institute of Contemporary Art will reportedly be built on Northwest 41st Street and feature a 37,000-square-foot museum building and 15,000-square-foot sculpture garden. The museum’s land is being donated by Miami Design District Associates, a partnership by Dacra’s Craig Robins and L Real Estate.

ICA Miami will be the first U.S. project for Madrid-based architects Aranguren & Gallegos Arquitectos, according to the Miami Herald.

Norman Braman said that the museum will be privately funded, but he hasn’t yet received estimates on the project’s cost. The deal for the museum’s land came after Braman and Robins had lunch. “Our strategy for the Design District is that we want it to be equally a place for culture as for commerce. By collaborating with the Bramans and the incredible board behind ICA, that gave us the perfect opportunity,” Robins said to the Herald.

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

ICA Miami’s creation arose from a public split earlier in the year between the city of North Miami and the former board of the Museum of Contemporary Art, co-chaired by Irma Braman. As part of a November settlement, the city will keep the MOCA name, 70 percent of the art holdings and $1 million in art funds. ICA Miami’s holdings will be built up with donations from the private collection of the Bramans, plus other sources.

The museum is currently operating at an interim space in the Moore Building at 4040 NE 2nd Avenue and has two exhibits running. [Miami Herald]Chris Guanche