New Dali Museum unveiled

City Council members were shown this rendering today. Dali officials said some details of the design will change. [Dali Museum]

ST. PETERSBURG--The City Council approved the initial designs for the Salvador Dali Museum’s new building Thursday.

Dubbed Placa Dali, the avant-garde waterfront structure will feature a cascading river of glass spilling out from the center of an unadorned, three story building.  The glass, which the museum is calling the "Engima," will serve as both entrance and skylight to the main structure, called the "Treasure Box."

The Engima will mimic the shape of a helical staircase that will spiral 28 feet from the ground floor to the museum's main third level gallery. Dali's work was heavily influenced by the discovery of DNA and the double helix in the 1950's.

Placa Dali will also include a 31,000 square foot elevated plaza near the building's entrance that will be used for outdoor dining and museum events.

Already, city leaders are comparing the building's design to the Louvre Museum in Paris.

"It is an excellent addition to our waterfront," said Council Member Jeff Danner.

Others said they were unsure what to make of it, even as they praised the unique design.

"It is exquisite," said Council Chair Jamie Bennett.

"You expect it to be odd," he added later. "It kinda looks like a blob."

Placa Dali will house the museum’s permanent collection, as well as a cafe, gift shop and sculpture garden. It will be able to withstand 165 miles per hour winds.

Construction on the new museum, located across from the Mahaffey Theater, is scheduled to begin in the fall. Placa Dali is slated to open in 2010.

--Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer