VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Museum of Art has raised $100 million toward a $126 million capital campaign to build a new facility and transform its campus, museum officials announced Friday alongside a groundbreaking ceremony.
The funds, collected during the campaign’s quiet phase from more than 112 donor households including individuals and foundations, will support an expanded home designed by Allied Works in collaboration with Unknown Studio Landscape Architecture & Urban Design. The project replaces the museum’s current one-story building with a 90,000-square-foot structure that doubles exhibition space to 22,000 square feet and adds 1.5 acres of green space, blending galleries, gardens, terraces and courtyards.
More than 200 civic leaders, supporters and stakeholders attended the groundbreaking, where speakers included Vero Beach Mayor John Cotugno, museum board chair Richard Segal and capital campaign committee chair Emily Sherwood.
“Our new building marks an exciting new beginning for the institution, reflecting and amplifying our role as the Treasure Coast’s preeminent cultural destination,” said Brady Roberts, the museum’s executive director.
The design emphasizes sustainability and integration with the surrounding Riverside Park, featuring a concrete facade inspired by local materials, an education wing with studios for painting, drawing and ceramics, and free public areas like a modern and contemporary art gallery, an interactive Art Zone for children, a cafe and a store. Additional amenities include a flexible auditorium, community room and rooftop terraces overlooking the Indian River Lagoon.
Founded in 1986, the Vero Beach Museum of Art has grown into a key cultural hub in Indian River County, drawing visitors with programs that have outpaced its existing capacity. The expansion aims to enhance arts education, ensure long-term resiliency and create spaces for community gathering and exchange.
Construction is expected to wrap up with an opening in early 2028, while the museum continues operations in its current location.
