National Headquarters

In 2018, the iconic national headquarters of National YoungArts Foundation, formerly the Bacardi Buildings Complex, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Since acquiring the historic tower and museum buildings in 2012, YoungArts has been working to transform the campus into a lively, multidisciplinary cultural center while preserving its beloved structures.

The Tower

Located on the easternmost side of the plaza facing Biscayne Boulevard, the Tower was commissioned by former Bacardi president José “Pepin” Bosch and houses the YoungArts Gallery, Ted's at YoungArts and staff offices. Designed by Cuban architect Enrique Gutiérrez of Saenz, Cancio, Martin and Gutiérrez, the Tower comprises a rectangular seven-story structure, which appears to float weightlessly over a square glass pedestal at the plaza level. The building has four reinforced concrete columns, a set of two flat trusses and two end walls. The north and south end walls of the Tower contain panels of ribbed pre-cast concrete with a contemporary azulejo mural created by Brazilian artist Francisco Brennand. More than 28,000 tiles were fired in Brazil and installed as a giant puzzle.

The Jewel Box

The Jewel Box was designed by Ignacio Carrera-Justiz of Coral Gables, Florida. The exterior is covered in thick hammered stained glass tapestries, designed by S.E.A.R. under the direction of Gabriel and Jacques Loire of Chartres, France and based on an abstract painting by German artist Johannes Dietz. An outstanding example of modern cantilever construction, the square building is raised 47 feet off the ground by a pedestal. The two-story space cantilevers out 24 feet from its central core on all sides as each floor is hung from 28-foot tensor rods from a reinforced roof. The Jewel Box has been transformed into spaces for artists to work, collaborate and create.

YOUNGARTS GALLERY

The two-story YoungArts Gallery designed by Frank Gehry, opened in December 2013, hosts exhibitions year round by YoungArts master teachers, winners and alumni, including Olafur Eliasson, Daniel Arsham and Hernan Bas. Located in the Tower building, the YoungArts Gallery offers an immersive experience and a space that lends itself to cocktails or intimate dinners.

To learn more about YoungArts exhibitions click here.