STORYN Studio for Architecture is honored to announce that its design for the Woodson African American Museum of Florida project has received four major design awards and has been selected as a finalist for a fifth in 2024 and 2025. These honors highlight the project’s innovation, cultural significance, and architectural excellence on both national and international stages.

Award recognitions include

Architizer 2025 A+Awards – Jury Winner, Unbuilt Commercial Category

World Architecture Festival (WAFX) Awards 2025 Winner: Cultural Identity

World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards 2025 – Finalist, Future Projects Culture category

AIA Florida 2025 Design Award – Honor Award, Unbuilt Category

AIA Tampa Bay 2024 Honor Award for Architecture – Unbuilt Category

"We are deeply honored by this international recognition. At STORYN, we believe that great design begins with deep listening, critical inquiry, and a commitment to serve," said Everald Colas, Founding Principal. "Every project is an opportunity to uplift communities, challenge assumptions, and shape spaces that reflect the dignity and complexity of the people they’re built for.” 

A new cultural beacon in Florida

The new home for The Woodson African American Museum of Florida will be a cultural beacon within the city of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, the Tampa Bay area, and beyond.

The museum will span 40,000 square feet and will feature four permanent galleries, an orientation theater, and a gallery for visiting exhibits. Being inspired by the lens of Afrofuturism, these spaces will highlight themes of innovation and creativity, fostering a deep connection between visitors and the rich cultural narratives of the African diaspora. The museum design is committed to meeting the requirements of a Smithsonian Affiliate, ensuring that it will adhere to the highest standards of exhibition and scholarship.

Rising from the Earth, precast concrete panels will create a distinct form, extending the site’s influence on all those within view. Drawing from the pattern and shape of Zulu beadwork necklaces, the design symbolizes the deep roots and the ongoing influence of African craftsmanship, an organic quality that will connect the project to its landscape while simultaneously embodying the cultural richness it represents. Traditional African construction methods often incorporate sustainable practices that are well adapted to local climates, available resources, and community needs. Applying these principles to the climate of St. Petersburg would result in a building that leads in environmental stewardship.

The vision for The Woodson African American Museum of Florida begins with the museum’s core responsibilities: safeguarding its collections and creating spaces that inspire appreciation, celebration, reverence, reflection, and awe. From there, the design integrates Afrofuturism by incorporating advanced construction technologies, drawing parallels between the untapped potential of museology and the unfolding narratives of African futures. Every design decision has been evaluated against these core principles, ensuring a legacy project that serves and enriches the community for generations to come. By prioritizing these values, The Woodson African American Museum of Florida will become not just a place of exhibition, but a vibrant hub for cultural dialogue, community engagement, and educational opportunity.

Project team

Everald Colas, AIA, NOMA | Founding Principal

José Miranda, AIA | Principal

Evan Vander Ploeg, RA | Associate Principal

Jacob Peel, AIA, LEED | Senior Architect

Clay Martin | Designer

Renica Navea | Designer

AIA Tampa Bay 2024 Honor Award for Architecture – Unbuilt category

The AIA Tampa Bay Honor and Design Awards are an annual program that honors the top projects, people and firms in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry in Tampa Bay. The Design Awards Program recognizes excellence in design by the architectural profession and is presented by AIA Tampa Bay, a Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. These Awards are intended to promote public consciousness of the built environment through distinguished works of architecture.

AIA Florida 2025 Design Award Recipient Honor Award - Unbuilt category

The AIA Florida Design & Honor Awards program encourages excellence in architecture, elevates the public awareness of good design and recognizes those architects whose work enriches our communities and architecture at large.

Architizer 2025 A+Awards Jury Winner - Unbuilt Commercial category

The Architizer A+Awards is the largest awards program celebrating the year’s best architecture, spotlighting meaningful design with a global audience of 400+ million. Winners are selected by a diverse jury of architects, thought leaders, and cultural influencers based on form, function, and impact.

WAF Awards 2025 Shortlisted – Future Projects Culture category

WAF is the world’s largest international architecture awards program, with hundreds of submissions from over 60 countries each year. Finalists are chosen through WAF’s rigorous and highly respected judging process, led by a panel of more than 140 renowned architects, designers, journalists, and industry experts.

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida was selected in the Future Projects - Culture category, which recognizes unbuilt, conceptual work that demonstrates innovation, ambition, and forward-thinking design.

WAFX Award 2025 Winner – Cultural Identity Category

The WAFX Awards are a special category of the World Architecture Festival, celebrating future-focused architectural concepts that tackle major world issues, from climate change and cultural identity to social equity and technology. WAFX winners are chosen from among the WAF Awards Future Projects shortlist and represent the most forward-thinking designs across key global challenges.

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida received the WAFX Award in the Cultural Identity category, honoring its bold vision and commitment to preserving and celebrating African American heritage through innovative and inclusive design.