AWARD-WINNING ARCHITECTS COLLABORATE ON MOSI EXPANSION

TAMPA, Fla. (June 10, 1995) - He is referenced in the Richard Gere film, "Intersection." He was an answer on Jeopardy. His buildings have been used as sets for advertising campaigns and a Tina Turner video. He is Architect Antoine Predock and his most recent creation is Tampa's newest attraction - the IMAX® Dome Theatre and $35 million expansion of MOSI (the Museum of Science & Industry) opening July 1.

Predock's work has been chronicled in every major publication known to the architectural profession. Most recently, Architecture magazine, in its March 1995 issue, states, "In the last decade, he has gone from being a respected regionalist to an international celebrity with major commissions in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Tucson, and Tampa. No contemporary American architect has done more to extend architecture's spiritual and symbolic range."

How did MOSI manage to align itself with one of the world's foremost architects? MOSI's Building Committee sent letters to local architects about MOSI expansion. The letter stated that MOSI was interested in a nationally-recognized piece of architecture. Eric Kreher, A.I.A. of Robbins, Bell & Kreher, Architects, Inc., called Predock. "I'd never spoken to him before," said Kreher. "I'd just always admired his work. Antoine Predock's name is to an architect like F. Lee Bailey to an attorney." Predock agreed to the collaboration. MOSI's Building Committee toured Predock's Albuquerque offices and interviewed Predock and RBK as a team. The partnership began in 1991 and culminated with the dedication of the new Tampa landmark July 1.

"Spirit," "light," "earth elements," "concern for the landscape," "nature boy," "visionary" are words which surface again and again in dialogue about Predock and his work. He, too, describes his work as "simple-rooted in earth while aspiring to sky. My basic approach to design is to be site-specific-expressing spirit of place."

Responding to the environment is a central commitment in all Antoine Predock Architect projects. This will be evident in MOSI's expanded nature trails; a gopher tortoise habitat and population observation station; a drainage system that filters water back into natural wetlands without the use of retention ponds; an above-ground water recycling project; and a variety of outdoor exhibits. Environmentally sensitive approaches include the use of indigenous and energy efficient building materials, water conserving fixtures, natural light settings, and xeriscaping with minimal irrigation.

Complementing Predock's effort locally as the Architect of Record, is the award-winning architectural firm of Robbins, Bell & Kreher, Inc., who transformed his innovative design into reality. According to Kreher, "We took his model and turned it into a building. Nothing like that sphere has ever been done before. We had to invent a way of building it." Other Predock projects include:

Disney Development Company hotels at Disney World, Orlando, and Euro Disney, Paris.
Arizona State University's Nelson Fine Arts Center
La Jolla Playhouse, California
Las Vegas Central Library and Children's Museum, Nevada
American Heritage Center and Art Museum, University of Wyoming

Honors: American Institute of Architects' National Honor Award
1989 Buenos Aires Biennial Publications:
Vanity Fair
Time
Architectural Digest
U.S. News & World Report
New York Times
Progressive Architecture
Architectural Record

The firm of Robbins, Bell & Kreher has won awards for projects exemplifying design excellence as well as energy conservation. Local projects include the GTE Data Services Technology Center, Sarasota - Bradenton Airport, TECO Data Center, and the University of Tampa Minarets Restoration project.