Vero Beach Museum of Art Unveils $85M Expansion Plans for Riverside Park Campus
- Miami Living Team
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
Just under a two-hour drive north of Miami, the Vero Beach Museum of Art (VBMA) has unveiled design plans for its new $85 million expanded home and campus in Riverside Park along the Indian River Lagoon. Developed by Allied Works with Unknown Studio Landscape Architecture & Urban Design, the two-story, 90,000-square-foot building will double exhibition space, add an education wing with studios, and feature gardens, terraces, and courtyards that weave art and nature together.
Since its 1986 founding as an arts education center, VBMA has grown into one of the country’s highest-attended small museums, with a permanent collection of American Modernism and global Contemporary art, a robust program of touring exhibitions, and a nationally regarded art school. The expansion marks the institution’s most significant upgrade in 40 years, ensuring long-term sustainability, more capacity for exhibitions, and expanded educational programs.
“Our new building marks an exciting new chapter, reflecting and amplifying our role as the Treasure Coast’s preeminent cultural convenor,” said Brady Roberts, VBMA’s Executive Director and CEO. “The first floor will feature exhibitions, education, and public programs free and open to the public, creating an even more welcoming destination.”
Construction begins in fall 2025, with completion expected in early 2027. The new design includes 22,000 square feet of galleries, a community auditorium, children’s art spaces, and flexible learning studios, all connected to Riverside Park by lush terraced landscaping. The project will also add 1.5 acres of green space, enhancing VBMA’s role as both a cultural and community hub.
“The design manifests the materiality of the region and creates an open setting where art, landscape, and architecture are seamlessly entwined,” said Brad Cloepfil, Founding Principal of Allied Works, whose past cultural projects include the Clyfford Still Museum and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
VBMA remains open during construction at its current facility, continuing exhibitions and programs through the transition. The Museum is located at 3001 Riverside Park Drive in Vero Beach, Florida.
For more information, visit vbmuseum.org.