Museum of Fine Arts Property Selected For AI Infrastructure Project
ST. PETERSBURG — Developers announced Thursday that the Museum of Fine Arts will close later this year and be redeveloped into an artificial intelligence data center. Urban planners say the project will help ensure that St. Pete remains competitive with China.
The museum, which opened in 1965, sits on nearly four acres of waterfront property along Beach Drive. Redevelopment consultant Graham Whitmore says the site is uniquely suited for data center operations.
“The proximity to the bay will significantly reduce cooling costs by providing a convenient source of water for the facility’s cooling systems,” Whitmore said.
Experts also noted that the property is located near the city’s population center. A recent planning report concluded that artificial intelligence infrastructure should be located as close to residents as possible. According to the report, keeping AI systems near the people they serve helps reduce latency when processing real-time data collected from cameras, sensors and other smart-city technologies.
“Every millisecond counts,” Whitmore said. “The closer the AI is to residents, the better it can understand their needs.”
Officials said the museum’s collection will be relocated following the facility’s closure. Under the proposal, the collection would be donated to the planned Waldorf Astoria Residences, where selected works by Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe and other artists would be displayed in common areas throughout the development.
“The artwork isn’t going away,” Whitmore said. “It’ll simply be relocated to a setting that’s more consistent with its value.”
Officials called the project a win for both the arts and economic development.
The museum’s original architect once said the building was designed to convey a feeling of permanence.
“That was before artificial intelligence,” Whitmore said.
“Back then, people thought permanence was a good thing.”
