Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art

About the Project

To house and display the largest collection of Florida-based artwork in the world, the Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS), an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute, collaborated with the city of Daytona Beach to open the 26,000-square-foot Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art. Located just minutes from the MOAS, the art museum’s welcoming grand central gallery and mezzanine has an open beam ceiling, which gives the space a modern flare and perfectly showcases signature pieces within the rotating collection of more than 2,600 oil and watercolour paintings. The museum’s six smaller galleries offer visitors a more intimate atmosphere in which to view the beauty and history of Florida’s talented artists.

The Challenge

RLF Architects led the design of the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art with the goal of protecting the new museum’s precious artwork while ensuring the design complemented the beauty of the art. With permanent and rotating exhibits, the space had to be multi-functional and easily accessible by staff and visitors. Additionally, reducing sun exposure from the tropical Florida climate was a priority to ensure the artwork remained pristine for future generations. In fact, one of the oldest pieces in the museum is by Louis Aston Knight, Sunset on the Suwanne River, ca. 1910.

The Soultion

All the design elements harmonize to create a backdrop worthy of the paintings. Every detail, down to the window coverings, meets the dual purpose of enhancing and protecting the artwork. RLF Architects worked with Construction Specialties (CS) to install custom sunshades in sleek textures wrapped with real wood veneer. The vertical blade sunshades effectively control light entering the building while reducing glare and lowering energy costs. By eliminating blazing sunlight and creating cooler indoor temperatures, the shades allow visitors to enjoy vivid colours, amazing portraits and imaginative interpretations of Florida and its history in a comfortable setting.