USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
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This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T
THE 52 WORLD Vol. 25, No. 18
April 30, 2025
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 10 Pages
Section A, Page 1
ARTFULLY REDEFINING RESIDENTIAL LIVING IN PENSACOLA
By Darien Hardy
M
aya Angelou once said that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but they will not forget how you made them feel. According to Tamara Bowens, president and chief operating officer of The Dawson Company d.b.a Inspired Communities of Florida, this notion perfectly captures the essence behind the concept of The 52 World—Pensacola’s first conscious-living community. The 52 World is an amenityrich, mixed-use development spanning 52 acres, with 26 acres dedicated to nature preserves. It offers three distinct living options: Inspire Apartments, Thrive Lofts and Evolve Townhomes, providing a unique living experience for every stage of life. The Dawson Company recently developed 210 new luxury townhomes as part of the mixed-use development project, which are now available to rent. The property also features 350 apartments and 108 lofts located off West 9 Mile Road in Pensacola. The 52 World is redefining residential living in Pensacola by artfully merging design and public art through its innovative Living Art Museum. This initiative not only elevates the experience of residents and visitors with world-class art but also establishes a versatile living model. By incorporating exceptional art within the framework a rental residential community, The Dawson Company is committed to making fine art a fundamental component of its properties.
“This decision was made by [The Dawson Company] CEO, Harold Dawson, Jr., who wanted to build a community versus just a place to live,” Bowens explained. “That’s how we initially came up with the three concepts.” Thrive Lofts offers a unique and funky living experience. Inspire Apartments, located in the middle of the property, houses the largest of The 52 World’s indoor museums and provides a more traditional approach to living. Evolve Townhomes offers more space in the form of two-to-four-bedroom, two-story homes geared toward growing families. The community blends exceptional architecture with artistic elements and natural surroundings, creating a tranquil sanctuary. Key features of The 52 World include modern amenities designed for inspirational living, such as co-working spaces, two luxury resort-style swimming pools and two massive gyms—one is a threelevel gym, and one is a sizable singlelevel space that has all the latest and greatest technology-centered workout equipment. The 52 World also boasts a meditation room, walking trails, reflection ponds and two dog parks—one for large dogs and one for small ones. The community includes abundant retail space in a soon-to-open gourmet grocery store, fuel station, PJ’s Coffee and Montessori Kids Universe Early Childhood Educational Center. The 52 World’s Living Art Museum features more than 20 pieces of investment-grade art from world-renowned artists throughout the property.
The Living Art Museum acts as a cultural hub and offers unique programming that makes art accessible to both residents and the public.“Our company was built on the principle of doing well by doing good, and so when we develop, we always leave a gift for the residents, and the gift we wanted to leave here was art,” Bowens stated. “When we started finding iconic pieces of art to put on the property, we realized we have a lot of space here, and so we just kept buying and buying, and before you knew it, it turned into a museum.” Bowens emphasizes that the Living Art Museum and the fine art displayed throughout the development provide a sanctuary for the soul, fostering a positive and uplifting environment essential for promoting mental well-being across all socioeconomic backgrounds. “We wanted to provide an opportunity for our residents to pause and reflect, and what better way to do that than with art?” Bowens explained. “We wanted to have something out there that the residents can be one with—be at peace with—allowing them to lay down their stresses of the day and be out on the property, enjoying the beauty of the art that’s situated all over the 52 acres of the property.” The 52 World is located on West Nine Mile Road across from the Navy Federal Credit Union’s main Pensacola campus. Based on the expansion happening in the area and market research, The Dawson Group knew the Ensley area would be the ideal place for The 52 World. Being right off of Interstate 10, the location is central for residents commuting to
Alabama, the core of Pensacola, or the beaches. With its plentiful retail space and on-site amenities, The 52 World provides a self-contained community where residents have all the basics and essentials they need. “It’s not just a place to live—it’s a place to get to know your neighbors, and the art is core to that,” Bowens said. “Art sparks a conversation because it’s up to the eye of the beholder—what one person sees is different to what another person sees and interprets. It’s been a great way for us to start conversations among our residents.” The Dawson Company envisioned a community where art is integral to the daily experience of each resident—where culture, nature and community intertwine to create a haven of inspiration. Bowens explained that post-pandemic, when people were isolated and alone, people wanted community and to know their neighbors. Now that the pandemic is over, people still want the same thing. No one wants to feel isolated anymore, and The 52 World offers that much-needed connection with art and luxury amenities. In this development, The Dawson Company also hopes to convey conscious living—being present with neighbors and cognizant and appreciative of the world. “If a resident wants to clear their head, we have walking trails, reflection ponds and meditation rooms, all so they can find their way to be at peace with nature,” Bowens elaborated. “One of our big things is this marriage of humanity in nature and being able to be at peace and have The 52 World as a sanctuary from the outside world.”
Pensacola's cultural landscape is flourishing, and The 52 World Living Art Museum adds a transformative element to the area's creative identity, appealing to art lovers locally and nationwide. With plans for artist residencies, community workshops and educational programming, The 52 World’s Living Art Museum is committed to cultivating an immersive environment that inspires current residents and visitors alike, while also nurturing future generations of artists. These upcoming projects will provide hands-on experiences and intimate encounters with art, aiming to enhance Pensacola's reputation as a dynamic cultural hub and foster connections that bring people closer through the shared language of creativity. Every third Thursday of the month, The 52 World offers tours to the public led by docents hired from the University of West Florida. The tours will explore who the artists are, the names of the artworks and what the inspiration was—providing not only a gift to The 52 World residents but also to the greater Pensacola area. The 52 World presents an extraordinary opportunity for residents and the public alike to witness a bold new approach to art in residential design. It is more than an outdoor museum or a residential space—it is a living, breathing testament to the power of creativity in shaping the spaces we inhabit, with the hope of connecting people with art, nature and each other. To learn more about The 52 World’s living experiences and Living Art Museum, visit the52.world and follow @the52.world on Instagram.■
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