The new ArtCenter Manatee design caught our eye when we learned that the architects behind its sleek, unique design recently took ​​home the Firm of the Year Award from the Gulf Coast chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Thanks to a sizable donation, the revamped center will be known as the Herrig Center of the Arts. Construction on the project began last week.

The new design of the 86-year-old nonprofit, located at 209 Ninth St. W., Bradenton, will be a two-story, 28,000-square-foot facility, more than doubling the center's current size of 10,000 square feet. Originally built in 1955, the current building will be demolished once the new one is done in roughly two years.  

The extra room will bring more local and national exhibits, more space for art classes that serve residents from ages 4 to 99, a kitchen and more gift shop space. There will also be jewelry studio and pottery studios and more room for community events.

Carla Nierman is the center's executive director. She has been with the organization for 17 years, and says she looks forward to being able to hire new staff thanks to the increased office space, but even more so to reach the children they’ve had to turn away from summer and after-school programs because of growing demand.

“Our children’s area is tripling and we’ve had to turn away kids and families looking to sign up for our programs," she says. "The programs are not necessarily to train them to be a professional artist—it’s a place to explore creativity, which will benefit them in life."

In all, “between 30,000 and 50,000 visit the center annually,” Nierman says.

The new center, which will also include an outdoor park and sculpture garden, will act as a gateway for downtown Bradenton as one of the first things people see as they arrive from the Green Bridge. Close to the Bradenton Riverwalk, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature and the Manatee Performing Arts Center, it’s part of a long-term plan to elevate downtown Bradenton.

“It’s about creating community at the city level with outdoor public space," says Jason Jensen, the chief executive officer and president of WJ Architects, the firm that designed the new building. "The windows are connected to the public space and put the activity on display for all to see. We were inspired by the Umbrella House [an iconic Sarasota School of Architecture building], so some of the studios are separated from the main building, but connected through a two-story outdoor atrium. This way, not everything has to be indoors in air conditioning, and we can allow more breeze and natural light depending on the weather."

The second floor will have an outdoor patio that cantilevers over the entry for shade, and the gallery will be flexible thanks to 10-foot wall panels that pivot at 180 degrees to close or open the space while still providing wall space for art.

"The building embraces the environment and the opportunity to have different positions for artists to work collaboratively inside and out," Jensen says.

So far, the center has raised roughly $9 million for the $15 million project, including a $2 million gift from the Steve and Natalee Herrig Family Foundation.

The new facility’s address will be 888 Avenue of the Arts—a new name for Third Avenue West, not unlike when a portion of Sixth Street in Sarasota was renamed Boulevard of the Arts. Bradenton's NDC Construction is handling the build-out.

“Bradenton is growing up, and it's exciting to be part of it," says Nierman.

To learn more, visit artcentermanatee.org.