The Straz Center for the Performing Arts aspired to expand its impact as a cultural cornerstone in downtown Tampa by creating an inclusive, community-oriented destination that welcomes both planned and spontaneous encounters with the arts. With over 600,000 annual patrons and a robust lineup of performances, educational programs, and events, the Straz Center鈥檚 leadership envisioned a space that encourages deeper engagement with the creative process while strengthening its connection to the surrounding urban and natural environment. Our design reimagines the Straz Center as a porous, vibrant hub that blurs the lines between audience and artist, city, and stage.
Drawing from the movement of the Hillsborough River, the design softens the grid of downtown Tampa with curving forms and a new grand terrace that gracefully descends toward the water, activating the riverwalk with a bistro, performance stage, and public gathering spaces. Inside, new and renovated amenities 鈥� including a caf茅, restaurant, and donor lounge 鈥� enhance the patron experience, while an expanded Patel Conservatory supports the Straz Center鈥檚 educational mission with flexible, welcoming spaces. Throughout, a new fa莽ade of delicate, textured layers filters light and views, reflecting the natural rhythms of the river and symbolically drawing the public into the Straz Center鈥檚 creative energy. The result is not just an architectural expansion, but a civic expression of Tampa鈥檚 artistic spirit.
The project鈥檚 expansion and renovation encompassed 41,500 SF of interior and exterior building enhancements across a 10-acre site, realizing a long-standing vision to elevate the nation鈥檚 sixth-largest performing arts venue. Central to the expansion was a grand terrace extending toward the riverwalk, featuring a bistro and outdoor stage for gatherings and performances. Enhanced lobbies, dining venues, and an exclusive donor lounge enrich the patron experience, while an expanded Patel Conservatory fosters community and learning. The design responds to the site鈥檚 proximity to the Hillsborough River 鈥� prone to seven-foot rises during major storms 鈥� by setting all new construction at least two feet above the 500-year flood line. A resilient, high-performance building envelope was employed to withstand hurricane-force winds while reducing solar heat gain through strategic glazing and shading solutions.
