SARASOTA – The Asian Art Study Center, a new gallery added to The FSU/The Ringling museum complex and a Willis A. Smith Construction project, recently received an Award of Divine Detail from the Gulf Coast American Institute of Architects (AIA). Architects Sweet Sparkman and Machado Silvetti accepted the award at the 2014 AIA Sarasota Design Conference.
The Award of Divine Detail is a new category for the AIA Sarasota Design Conference created especially for the Asian Art Study Center due to its exquisite ceramic exterior. To address the client's requirement for a monumental statement at the new entrance, the pavilion addition's façade is a deep green-glazed terra cotta to reflect the environment of the Museum's extensive landscape. Its finish is also reminiscent of the ceramic details found on the nearby Venetian-Gothic mansion.
This 29,150 SF project consists of 20,000 SF of interior and exterior renovations of the 1955 West Wing Gallery at the southwest corner of the Main Historic Galleries.Attached will be a new 9,150 SF three story facility that will be used as an educational teaching space along with new gallery exhibit space. The existing West wing galley will be converted into a study center along with state of the art gallery space on the second floor to house Asian art. A new balcony will be added on the third floor for gatherings that overlook Sarasota Bay and the historic museum courtyard.