OVERVIEW
The National YoungArts Foundation acquired the landmark Bacardi Tower and Museum buildings in Miami, Florida in October 2012 and has since converted the buildings into the YoungArts Campus—the organization’s first national headquarters. The YoungArts Campus, located on the corner of Biscayne Boulevard and 21st Street—at the nexus of the Wynwood Arts District, Arts & Entertainment District and Edgewater—supports expanded programming in Miami and across the country.
Since acquiring the historic Bacardi complex in 2012, YoungArts has been working to transform the Campus into a lively, multidisciplinary cultural center while preserving its beloved structures, which were granted a historic designation by the City of Miami Preservation Board in October 2009.
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 Gutierrez of Saenz, Cancio, Martin and Gutierrez, 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.
YOUNGARTS GALLERY
YOUNGARTS GALLERY
The YoungArts Gallery opened in December 2013 and has since hosted several exhibitions by YoungArts master teachers, winners and alumni, including Olafur Eliasson, Daniel Arsham and Hernan Bas. Located on the first two floors of the Tower building, the YoungArts Gallery houses the work of YoungArts winners and alumni, as well as other artists.
TED'S AT YOUNGARTS
TED'S AT YOUNGARTS
Ted’s is an intimate performance space located on the 7th Floor of YoungArts’ Tower building on Biscayne Boulevard. Named in honor of YoungArts’ co-founder and philanthropist, Ted Arison, Ted’s is a unique entertainment destination. Guests can experience various types of visual and performing arts programming curated by YoungArts. Designed by world-renowned architect and YoungArts Artistic Advisor Frank Gehry, Ted’s provides audiences an intimate setting to interact with and experience some of the most talented local and national artists.
The Jewel Box
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.
CAMPUS RENTALS
Several facilities on the YoungArts Campus are available to rent for private events. If you're interested in hosting an event at YoungArts, visit our Campus Rentals page for more information.