International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame and Museum

This hall of fame and museum in Fort Lauderdale was conceived for the IGFA’s world headquarters, creating a public attraction to honor the legends of sport fishing and educate the public about the history, science and sport of recreational fishing.

LOCATION

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

SIZE

58,000 SF

YEAR OF COMPLETION

1999

SERVICES

ARCHITECTURE

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT

TIMOTHY HURSLEY

AWARDS

2000 AIA GULF STATES HONOR AWARD 1999 AIA LOUISIANA HONOR AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 1999 AIA NEW ORLEANS HONOR AWARD
Outdoor bleachers provide seating for educational lectures and demonstrations on the large man-made lake.
At courtyards, brise soliel elements and palm trees serve to soften harsh midday sun and create livable outdoor environments.

Carefully sited in a previously undeveloped parcel adjacent to heavily-traveled Interstate-95, the facility was conceived as an object surrounded and influenced by water. The building envelope subtly expresses the dual language of “fish” as well as “fishing” in materiality, texture and pattern. The abundant use of stainless steel, white plaster and sculpted forms evoke the language of sleek sport fishing vessels; simultaneously, the staggered pattern of stainless wall panels reflected in the light of the surrounding pond, evoke the shimmering iridescent qualities of fish emerging from the water.

Numerous exterior building features support the IGFA mission while sensitively reflecting the south Florida environment. The total effect is of a figurative submersion, intended to take the visitor from the human world above to the marine world below. As Deborah Dietsch, Art and Architecture critic of the Sun Sentinal, noted in her review, “Eskew+ has managed to create a bold monument to the angler that conveys both its educational purpose and the thrill of the catch.”

Outdoor bleachers provide seating for educational lectures and demonstrations on the large man-made lake.
A central “Hall of Greats” contains world record mounts of every species IGFA maintains records for and provides access to each of the six focus galleries.