New Museum Blog - Miami Science Museum

Big Brown Water Cisterns Make the Museum Greener

Posted on June 13th, 2013

By: MiaSci

They are big, they are brown, and they make a difference!

The new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science is designed to be one giant exhibit, and this includes the stories of the science and technology involved in its construction. This last week one rather large and vital component was delivered to the site: the water cisterns. These cisterns have the important task of helping the Museum conserve and re-use massive amounts of water. For example, water that runs off the roof and the plaza may be used in the air conditioning system, and potentially for irrigation for the green spaces around the Museum. With native plantings over the majority of the site, the need for irrigation will be small after the initial season when plants are getting established. But the air conditioning system, especially for the aquarium, will always require water, so our cisterns will have a major impact on reducing our water use.

It’s not possible to always capture all the water, so to further the Museum’s goal of being as environmentally friendly and efficient as possible, the rain water on Museum Drive will drain towards a vegetated area, which will be part of a wetlands exhibit. Designed to tell the story of how water rises and falls throughout the Everglades, this area will also reduce the impact on the drainage system, slowing run-off and allowing water to soak into the ground over a period up to 72 hours – long enough to be beneficial for the ground and vegetation, but not so long as to allow mosquitoes to breed.

Our engineers, Fraga Associates, working with Executive Architects Rodriguez and Quiroga, have made sure we get this balance right: use as much as we need and manage the excess well. Irene Fraga, Chief Engineer, says “We think there are so many interesting stories and snippets of information for people to discover, we are proud to make this a real Miami building, that everyone will enjoy.”

Tags: Fraga Associates, Irene Fraga, Rodriguez and Quiroga

Request for Proposals – Retail Operator

Posted on May 23rd, 2013

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By: MiaSci

The Miami Science Museum is seeking to identify and select a partner to manage and operate the retail services for the new $275 million Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, to be located in Museum Park in Miami, Florida. This new highly sustainable facility will include a planetarium, aquarium, both indoor and outdoor flexible space for science exhibits as well as educational facilities. The Miami Science Museum has made available the Request for Proposals for this project on May 23, 2013.

To obtain a copy of the RFP, contact Ezra Garcia at miami@oppenheimlewis.com.

To review information on the Miami Science Museum, please view the Museum’s website at www.miamisci.org.

All Proposal packages are due to the Miami Science Museum by 5:00 pm EST on June 21, 2013.

Shape and Design at the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science

Posted on May 10th, 2013

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By: MiaSci

Shapes are emerging. The design of the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, with its full sphere of the planetarium, the curve and slope of the future Living Core aquarium, and the rectangular bar-shaped buildings, is spectacularly unique. At the construction site of our new Museum, these shapes are becoming more apparent, and looking more like the design renderings we have seen on paper for so long.

Here the structural floor of the planetarium (the circular section) can be seen, with the exterior part of the planetarium atrium surrounding it. In the background is the large freight elevator shaft.

The planetarium as seen when the Museum is completed in 2015.

This is the foundation and mechanical room of the 4 atrium elevators. To the right, framed in the green, epoxy-coated rebar, are water storage reservoirs.

The view into the Gulfstream tank in the Living Core building, as seen when the Museum is completed in 2015.

Here is the West Bar building, as seen from an area inside the Living Core building. The café will be at this level to the left of the blue tower crane. The next level will be the first floor of the innovation and technology galleries.

Miami Science Museum, Grimshaw Architects

The West Bar building and the Living Core, as seen when the Museum is completed in 2015.

The Latest and Greatest

Posted on April 25th, 2013

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By: MiaSci

One of the most exciting things about visiting the construction site of the new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science is that the construction progress is reaching the point where you don’t have to use your imagination quite as much to picture the Museum – you can see some key features forming right in front of your eyes. Here’s the latest and greatest:

The Planetarium sphere is taking shape, as more and more of these “orange peel slice” pieces are added.

This angled “heel” of the aquarium wall rises from the parking garage level all the way up to the top level. The Sun is shining through this opening to the next level, where a ramp will lead visitors from the parking level to the Museum entrance.

On top of the parking garage, the Plaza Level will join the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science with the Perez Art Museum Miami, seen here.

Multiple planters like this one will be on the Plaza Level for visitors to enjoy.

The levels of the Museum rising up!

A 360 Degree Panorama of Progress

Posted on April 10th, 2013

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By: MiaSci

The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science is rapidly rising up from the ground, and the seemingly accelerated pace is matched only by everyone’s ever-increasing excitement about what is to be in just a couple short years. Here is a 360 degree photo-panorama of the progress. We have moved upward from the foundation and parking garage levels to these photos, taken from the newly constructed Plaza Level.

Looking East, toward the Perez Art Museum Miami

Looking North, toward the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

Looking West, toward the 10 Museum Park building, which will house Museum offices

Looking South, toward the American Airlines Arena

2013 Galaxy Gala and Big Bang!

Posted on March 14th, 2013

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By: MiaSci

On March 9, 2013, nine hundred and seventy of Miami’s business, civic philanthropic and young professional leaders gathered for The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science’s annual Galaxy Gala and Big Bang in support of the Museum’s new state of the art facility now under construction in downtown Miami’s Museum Park. The festivities took place at the JW Marriott Marquis and carried an aquatic theme inspired by the new Museum’s 500,000-gallon aquarium, which is the world’s first gulfstream tank. This year’s Galaxy Gala was co-chaired by Nancy and Jonathan Batchelor and Nicole and Edgar Lozano.

“With our new home in Museum Park now going vertical, this year’s Galaxy Gala was an opportunity for individual and corporate supporters to come together for a spectacular evening of entertainment, fine dining and dancing – all in support of what will be among the world’s most innovative and educational museums,” said Gala co-chair Nancy Batchelor.

Hosted by WPLG Channel 10 reporter Christina Boomer Vazquez, the program included several award presentations to honor key supporters of the Museum including: The Philanthropic Gift to Museum Chairs Trish and Dan Bell; Commemorative Hard Hats to naming donors, Patricia and Phillip Frost; Honorary Chair Award to long time donors The Batchelor Foundation; Gala Co-Chairs Awards to Nancy and Jonathan Batchelor and Nicole and Edgar Lozano; The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science Award to supporters, Ruth and Jack Admire; and the Vanguard Award to corporate partner, Wells Fargo.

Among Gala attendees were Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvahlo, Miami-Dade County School Board Member Raquel Regalado, University of Miami President Donna Shalala, and Miami-Dade College President Eduardo Padron.

Hosted by Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science’s Young Patrons group and under the leadership of Co-chairs Izzy Havenick and Alexis Rivera the BIG BANG party took place right after the Galaxy Gala. Miami’s movers and shakers danced the night away from 10 pm until the early hours of the morning. Sponsored by Magic City Casino and the Downtown Development Authority, the party transformed into a darker, nightlife inspired event with DJs Mark Leventhal and Lauren Reskin, special performances by musical group Hola Hi, hors d’oeuvers, an open cocktail bar sponsored by Bacardi, and desserts sponsored by Misha’s cupcakes and Donut Divas.

Dollars raised at the Gala and Big Bang complemented the more than $200 million that has been assembled from public and private sources for the construction of the Museum’s new building. The 250,000 square foot structure, designed by internationally recognized Grimshaw Architects, is fast rising in Museum Park along Biscayne Bay since its February 2012 groundbreaking. Once complete, the Museum will feature a lushly landscaped indoor and outdoor “living core” of terrestrial and aquatic spaces, a full dome planetarium, interactive exhibits, innovative technology and two additional wings of exhibition space, a green roof with hydroponics and the Knight Learning Center.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and MSM President and CEO Gillian Thomas

MSM Board Co-Chair Dan Bell, Patricia Frost, MSM Board Co-Chair Trish Bell, Dr. Phillip Frost

Gala Co-Chairs Nancy and Jon Batchelor, Nicole and Edgar Lozano

Mike Dee (Miami Dolphins) and wife Karen Dee, Phillis Oeters and George Foyo (Baptist Health South Florida), Phil and Susan Conway (JP Morgan Chase)

Don and Jeanette Slesnick, Dr. Eduardo Padron and Guest, Lourdes and Mayor Carlos Gimenez

Alexis Rivera Havinick, MSM VP of Communications Tony Lima, MSM Board Member Izzy Havanick, Barbara Havenick

Pam Garrison, Donna Shalala, MSM Board Member Swanee DiMare, Dr. Phillip Frost, MSM President and CEO Gillian Thomas, Cesar Alvarez, Patricia Frost, Raquel Regalado, City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado