Frost Museum of Science to Take Over Operations at Museum Park's Science Barge

The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science will take over operations of Museum Park's floating Science Barge when they open on May 8. The barge will undergo extensive renovation throughout the summer as it will be transformed into an environmental lab where it will supplement the museum's Aquarium and science exhibits with the surrounding marine life. The 120 foot Miami Science Barge opened in 2016 after it won the 2015 Knight Cities Challenge. It was designed by Nathalie Manzano and Dr. Ted Caplow and cost $1.2 million. 

Patricia & Phillip Frost Museum of Science to Finally Open May 8

The years of waiting and watching are beginning to come to end at Miami's Museum Park as the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science has finally announced an opening date of May 8. The museum will be the second museum delivered following the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) which has been received by the public as a major hit and help complete the cultural and art initiatives in Miami's Arts and Entertainment district which also includes the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and YoungArts.

The Frost Museum of Science has been a 5 year project, began construction in 2012 and has overcome many obstacles and roadblocks along the way including a $350 million price tag. Phillip and Patricia Frost had to help cover the rest of the cost of the construction after fundraising efforts failed to raise the necessary funds, missing the expected 2016 completion date. The Frost Museum of Science was designed by Grimshaw Architects, sits on 4 acres and features 4 different buildings in one, divided based on their field of study. There will be a planetarium, aquarium and feature 2 exhibit wings spread over 250,000 SF. The planetarium is 1-of-8 in the world featuring 8K resolution in 3D along with seating for 250 people. The museum claims on its website that it will take guests on a "journey from the ocean to the Everglades, from the human cell to outer space, investigating life as we know it." The building is working toward LEED Gold certification as part of their initiative to create a better planet. Tickets for the May 8 opening day are available on the museum's website.

Kirlin Group Brings 4th Lawsuit Against Design Team at the Patricia & Philip Frost Museum of Science

More drama at the construction site of the future Patricia & Philip Frost Museum of Science in Downtown's Museum Park. Kirlin Florida, a subsidiary of Kirlin Group, has joined Suffolk Construction and other contractors having filed suit in Miami-Dade County Circuit County. The suit alleges that design errors by architects and engineers forced the construction companies to backtrack on their work, making progress difficult and running costs. The design team also did not meet deadlines revising construction plans which then delayed the contractors from meeting their deadlines. Kirlin’s suit names Rodriguez and Architects Chartered, Fraga Engineers, Grimshaw Architects and DDA Engineers. The suit does not name the museum, which is a nonprofit and is located on county-owned land. There are three other currently active suits against the museum’s design team including from Suffolk, Baker Concrete Construction and Formrite Construction. The press team for the museum is holding to a December 2016 completion with an early 2017 opening date.