Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW) has been announced as the winner of an international RFP process to deliver a new arts and innovation cultural project in Boca Raton, Florida.

The Italian studio beat out Foster + Partners, Ennead, and OMA for the commission of the new Center for Arts & Innovation and will begin the design and development process next month toward an expected 2025 groundbreaking. The Center will be located in the city’s downtown core and offer local K-12 learners facilities equipped for STEAM education while providing much-needed cultural infrastructure. RPBW's proposal also calls for a six-venue program of flexible performance spaces with a capacity for up to 6,000 people.

“We have worked for the last five years to arrive at this milestone moment. The fact that this firm takes two to three commissions at any time in the year just underscores the fact that this project is that enticing to the global market,” the Center’s CEO, Andrea Virgin, indicated via a press statement.

“The Center for Arts and Innovation’s project will not only elevate Boca Raton’s cultural scene but also provide valuable opportunities for education and entrepreneurship,” Piano added. “I am excited to be part of this visionary project that will redefine the city’s identity and contribute to its cultural and technological legacy.”

Piano's Istanbul Modern museum opened earlier in the year, adding to a cultural sector portfolio that includes the Nasher Sculpture Center, Whitney Museum, and Menil Collection, among others. RPBW is also one of 18 shortlisted finalists for a new Performing Arts Center in Sarasota. Officials expect the Center for Arts and Innovation to be ready for its public debut by the end of 2029.