ICA Miami plans new building funded by ex-Philadelphia Eagles owner

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami will build a permanent home for itself that is expected to open in December 2016. The facility, which the recently founded museum announced on Monday, is being funded entirely from a gift by former Philadelphia Eagles owner Norman Braman and his wife, Irma, who is a museum board co-chair.

ICA Miami was recently formed out of a controversial split at the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami. The board of trustees of the North Miami museum had for months feuded with city leaders over numerous issues and decided in August to leave and set up a new institution.

ICA Miami is currently operating out of a temporary facility in Miami’s Design District. The permanent home will be designed by the Spanish firm Aranguren & Gallegos Arquitectos and will feature 37,500 square feet of space, officials said.

By comparison, the Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles is expected to have 120,000 square feet of space when it opens next year.

ICA Miami’s new building, which will also be located in the Design District, is expected to be Aranguren & Gallegos’ first U.S. project. The land for the building is being donated by Miami Design District Associates.

Norman Braman was the owner of the Eagles from 1985 to 1994. The billionaire has worked in different industries during his career but is believed to have reaped much of his fortune in the automotive dealership business.

ICA Miami didn’t disclose the estimated cost of the new facility or the worth of the donated land. It said Monday that its new home will also feature a 15,000-square-foot sculpture garden adjacent to the building.

On Wednesday, ICA Miami is set to open its inaugural exhibitions to the general public in its temporary space.

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT