Next phase of high school reuse plan begins

SARASOTA — Sarasota's Ringling College of Art and Design announced phase two of construction for the Ringling College Museum Campus resumed July 28.

The school also announced an estimated construction timeline of 16 months. The interior of the historic Sarasota High School and the building behind the former school building will be renovated. The construction will transform them into the Sarasota Museum of Art and Ringling College School of Continuing Studies.

“We are moving full-speed ahead now to complete the construction and we are thrilled to see this community campus come to life,” says Ringling College President Larry Thompson in a statement. “This is a momentous time in the history of the college and the entire Sarasota community, as we watch our many years of researching, fundraising and designing finally come to fruition.”

Phase one of the adaptive reuse started in spring 2015. According to a press release, the phase involved “excavation to strip the building back to the original 1926 construction, revealing the exquisite 'bones' of the structure.” It also included structural stabilization, civil engineering and installation of impact-resistant window systems.

Sarasota County Schools is leasing the historic building to Ringling College along with the 20,000-square-foot building behind it, adjacent parking and additional land.

A press release says the college previously “decided to take a pause in the construction to re-examine the Museum's original design and the expanded facility and land.” The museum was redesigned to incorporate more gallery space, a community room, cafe, classrooms and art-making studio spaces.