The Jim Moran Foundation Campus
Unbuilt
The new campus for the Jim Moran Foundation establishes an architectural identity for the Foundation derived from the visionary legacy of its eponymous founder. Situated in the culturally rich region of South Florida, this project unites the philanthropic endeavors of the Foundation and the entrepreneurial programs of the Institute for Global Entrepreneurship on a single campus. Accentuated by narrative details, responsive forms, and resilient strategies, the Jim Moran Foundation Campus is rooted in its origins but prepared for the future.
Awards Year | 2024
Project Statement
The new campus for the Jim Moran Foundation establishes an architectural identity for the Foundation derived from the visionary legacy of its eponymous founder. From modest beginnings as a Sinclair gas station lessee to his work bringing Toyota to the American market, Jim’s life was one of constant innovation. His legacy is entwined with the Foundation, which supports youth and family-focused nonprofits, as well as the Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, which partners with Florida State University to support rising entrepreneurial leaders. Charged with designing a new home for both the philanthropic Foundation and the educational Institute, the architect’s goal was to create a resilient icon that embodies the innovation and stewardship of the Foundation’s namesake.
Architecturally, this goal is dissected into four design pillars and associated qualities:
1. Timelessness – resilient, patinaed, adaptive
2. Sense of Place - context specific, authentic, orienting
3. Journey – discovery, perspective, experience
4. Craftsmanship – integrity, tailored details, informed materiality
The massing of the buildings is derived from resilient design strategies and key moments of discovery. The first occupiable floor is elevated 15’ above mean sea level in response to climatic considerations. This creates room for The Garden, which features over an acre of landscaped grounds punctuated with the rich local flora of South Florida. The Foundation and Institute are split into two volumes and rotated to give access to views, enhance moments of discovery, and create welcoming connections to the surrounding streets. The distinctive carves from the precast mass feature glazing oriented to nearby views that connect to Jim’s story, including the ocean and Holy Cross Hospital.
Materials and details are driven by experiential considerations and Jim’s legacy. The bronzed metal panels, which will patinate over time, are perforated with iconography derived from Jim’s career and thematically connect to the interior program. The exterior precast concrete panels feature a custom mix of aggregate predominately sourced from Florida, including local Coquina stone and shells that allude to Jim’s passion for boating. The geometry of the reveals within these precast panels is derived from automotive details that Jim added to his early Hudson stock vehicles. The interior custom millwork incorporates detailing inspired by Jim’s longstanding partnerships with Japan’s automotive industry and his belief in the value of craftsmanship.
From the massing of the building to the wood joinery in the library, the influence of this project’s core tenets and Jim’s narrative can be observed at all scales.
Framework for Design Excellence Narrative
**Design for Integration** – One of the four design pillars of this project is “Sense of Place”. From the very outset, it was critical to the design team and client that this project reflected the values of authenticity and community sensitivity that Jim Moran espoused in his life and career. Architecturally, this is achieved through various strategies of sensory activation.
The project engages visitors’ senses through material tactility, view articulation, and moments of discovery. As mentioned in the project brief, the materials are thoughtfully curated and reflective of the local and regional context. In addition to featuring locally sourced aggregate from land and sea, the precast is also sandblasted at strategic points of heightened tactility such as a precast bench or entry portal. The various balconies and carved window openings in the façade articulate key views, such as the nearby Holy Cross Hospital, the Atlantic Ocean, and downtown Fort Lauderdale. Lightwells illuminate hidden grottos with local flora that soften the parking level below the plinth. Highly detailed perforation patterns that allude to the stories of Jim Moran reveal themselves to visitors on the interior as they ascend the various structures of the campus.
**Design for Equitable Communities** – The primary programs housed within these two buildings are a philanthropic Foundation focused on funding local nonprofit organizations and an Institute for Global Entrepreneurship that champions scholarships and other initiatives aimed at rising young business talent. This building greatly expands and enhances the capacity of these two organizations, elevating their reach and visibility in South Florida.
While the design of this project meets the needs of the client today, it is designed to meet the anticipated needs of the client 100 years from now. It is the architect’s hope that this building, which is equipped with backup generators elevated well above sea level, would become a community stronghold and example of the benefits of resilient design should disaster strike.
**Design for Change** – While the project is designed to meet the needs of the Jim Moran Foundation today, it is also catered to the potential needs of the organization for decades to come. Portions of each building are dedicated to flexible use space. The fourth and fifth floors of the Foundation are designed as open galleries and maintain flexibility for a number of exhibits or potential alternate uses.
The first occupied floor is elevated 15’ above sea level with environmental resiliency in mind. The project is equipped with multiple backup generators in the event of an emergency, and the façade is designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane event. The abundance of native landscaping and permeable surfaces slow the flow of water to the city’s stormwater management system, easing the burden on civic infrastructure.
LEED/Green Certifications
Pursuing LEED Gold
Photo Captions
Exterior Rendering 02: View of Foundation and Institute from elevated plinth and hanging gardens
Exterior Rendering 03: View of Foundation and Paseo from elevated plinth and hanging gardens
Exterior Rendering 04: View of monumental stair from NE 20th Avenue approach
Exterior Rendering 05: View of articulated glazing, landscaped grottos, and elevated balconies
Interior Rendering 01: Jim Moran Foundation – Artifact Galleries
Interior Rendering 02: Jim Moran Foundation – Archive Library
Interior Rendering 03: Jim Moran Foundation – Legacy Hall
Interior Rendering 04: Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship – Event Space and Classroom
Exterior Rendering 06: View of backlit perforated precast panels which screen the building’s mechanical systems
