Pensacola Museum of Art approved for a second Main Street entrance with glass canopy

The Architectural Review Board voted April 17 to approve a new arched entry, cast‑stone steps, wrought‑iron railing and a glass canopy at 407 South Jefferson Street to establish a second public entrance to the Pensacola Museum of Art.

City staff described the project as an effort to activate a previously underused side of the museum’s Main Street elevation and reduce an unattractive blank wall that collects litter and discourages pedestrian use. The plan replaces an existing window with a door, creates a new landing, and removes an external set of steps to form a single, accessible landing connected to the museum interior.

Architect Andrew Grisco, who joined Carter Keena on the application, described the canopy as a glass and steel roof structure that will cover the new arched opening and tie to existing wing walls. “We will be having iron handrails … a cast stone step with a cast stone newel post that the steel will wrap around,” Grisco said. He told the board the intent is for the new elements to tie visually to the museum’s existing exterior work.

Staff noted the proposed work will remove a tree well and one tree from the city right‑of‑way; the city has consulted its arborist and requires replacement trees to be planted in an appropriate nearby location as part of project conditions. The board and applicant also discussed handrail extension details and the possibility of a gate to secure the courtyard area outside regular hours; staff said those details and code‑required handrail extensions would be resolved in construction drawings.

The board approved the proposal; staff will follow up on right‑of‑way tree replacement and confirm handrail/egress details as part of the permit and construction review process.