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 Monday, January 4, 2010 Circus Museum Set to Expand at Ringling MuseumSARASOTA, FL - January 4, 2010--The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art announces the expansion of the Circus Museums. The expansion will add 24,475 square feet to the existing Circus Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center building. This addition will include 12,000 square feet of exhibition space and 12,000 square feet of storage space. A groundbreaking ceremony is slated for late January 2010. More information will be forthcoming. Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc., a Sarasota based Construction Management firm, and FleischmanGarcia, Tampa and Sarasota, a professional association specializing in architecture, planning and interior design and have been selected to complete the project. The first floor of Phase II will showcase exhibitions celebrating the history of circus performance and further serve the educational mission of the Museum. The second floor will establish the Tibbals Center for the Study of the American Circus and be well-equipped for research by scholars and curators, as well as state-of-the art storage facilities. The exhibition space will feature interactive and creative galleries that celebrate the history of circus performances. West Office Exhibition Design, a California based exhibition design firm specializing in creating innovative and engaging exhibitions, will design the exhibition space. The Circus Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center is home to the world’s largest miniature circus, created by master model builder and philanthropist Howard Tibbals. Howard Tibbals provided $4 million gift to fund Phase II which was partially matched by the state in 2008. Tibbals is well known for a gift to the FSU/Ringling Museum in 2000 to build the Tibbals Learning Center and to establish an endowment. Additional funds are being solicited to complete the exhibition space. Please contact the Ringling Museum Development Office at 941.359.5700 Ext. 5803 for more information. Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. completed construction on Phase I as well as the following structures at the Ringling Museum of Art: the John M. McKay Visitors Pavilion, which included the installation of the Historic Asolo Theatre and the Ulla R. & Arthur F. Searing Wing of the Museum of Art. The company also assisted the Museum with the installation of John and Mable Ringling’s first private railroad car, the Wisconsin, in the Circus Museum. For additional details on the expansion, please contact Ringling Museum Chief of Marketing and Communications at 941.359.5700 Ext. 2801 or pam.fendt@ringling.org. ### The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complex in the nation. It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, by educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Historic Asolo Theater; and, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay. Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. is a Sarasota based Construction Management firm primarily serving Southwest Florida since 1972. As the oldest contractor firm in Sarasota, the company enjoys an excellent reputation with a solid background in commercial, industrial, educational, healthcare, museum specialty work and sustainable construction. The company is also a member of the Florida Green Building Coalition, U.S. Green Building Council, and Sustainable Sarasota. They now have 13 LEED Accredited Professionals (green building experts) on staff. The firm has made great strides in asserting itself as a leader in ‘green’ construction and has been awarded several contracts based in a large part on their experience in this field. A few of their notable green projects include: Willis A. Smith Construction’s own 18,000 square foot Corporate Headquarters Building at Lakewood Ranch, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch corporate offices, Ringling College of Art and Design Housing and Academic Building and The Wellness Community at Lakewood Ranch. For additional information, contact Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. at 941-366-3116 or via e-mail at elipoff@willissmith.com.  |
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