Centro Espanol West Tampa Credit: Photo c/o Tampa Bay Design Week
The Tampa Theatre is one of those buildings that’ll make you fall in love with a city, and this week it’s just one of nearly a dozen venues for Tampa Bay Design Week (TBDW).

The 98-year-old movie palace once faced the wrecking ball, but on Monday it hosts a free screening of the documentary, “Flexible Buildings: The Future of Architecture” which features individuals and organizations working to fight the plight of under-designed cities. A panel discussion follows the film, but TBDW offers many more opportunities on both sides of the Bay to surround yourself with people who’re curious about placemaking via architecture.

From West Tampa (that’s the Centro Espanol West Tampa, pictured) to Water Street, and even from the water by boat, TBDW has events in Tampa and closes this year’s edition with a behind the scenes tour of the St. Pete Pier, plus a self-guided driving tour of the Sunshine City’s mid century modern marvels, and more.

Tampa Bay Design Week runs April 12-21 at various venues, with no cover events and tickets for other events starting at $20.

See the full schedule below.

Downtown Tampa, Water street walking Tour Friday, April 12. Noon-1 p.m. No cover. Tampa Riverwalk (meet outside the Tampa Edition)

Architecture by boat: From seedy waterfront to sleek Water Street Saturday, April 13. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. $40-$45. Tampa Water Taxi (Davis Islands Marjorie Park Marina stop)

Tampa Theatre film + discussion: Evolving Skylines, Where will Tampa Be in 50 years? Monday, April 15. 5:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. No cover. Tampa Theatre, Tampa

Water Street’s Heron building tour: Behind the scenes Tuesday, April 16. 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. $35-$40. The Heron, Tampa

West Tampa trolley tour and talk: Historic tax preservation credits for commercial redevelopment Wednesday, April 17. 4 p.m.-6 p.m. $35-$40. Berriman-Morgan Cigar Factory, Tampa

Design Evolution of a Cigar City neighborhood: A walking tour of V.M. Ybor’s Columbus Drive Thursday, April 18. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. $20-$25. Cigar Worker’s Park, Tampa

Midtown Tampa tour: Behind the scenes Thursday, April 18. 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. $40-$45. Midtown, Tampa

West Tampa’s Centro Espanol Reimagined: USF SACD students present Friday, April 19. 3 p.m.-5 p.m. No cover (registration requested). Center for Architecture & Design Tampa Bay, Tampa

St. Pete’s mid-century modern self-guided driving tour Saturday, April 20. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $20-$25.

The future of Ybor’s visual arts venues Saturday, April 20. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. $20-$25. Kress Building, Ybor City

The St. Pete Pier tour: Behind the scenes Sunday, April 21. 10 a.m.-noon. $20-$25. St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg

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This article appears in Apr 4-10, 2024.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...