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Midtown 8 Residential Development in Midtown Miami Tops Off

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Architecture and design firm Stantec, Kast Construction and developer Wood Partners celebrated the topping off of the 28-story Midtown 8 residential development located on a two-acre site at 2901 and 2951 NE 1st Avenue in Midtown Miami. The mixed-use development includes 387 residences, retail space and parking.

When completed in May 2019, Midtown 8 will feature 30,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, an amenity deck above an attached 519-car garage, 27 Citi Bike spots, a clubhouse, a landscaped linear outdoor space with dog walk area and a colorful mural art wall expressive of the neighborhood. The residential units range from studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, and three-bedroom penthouses with elevated ceilings.

Other residential amenities include a co-working space in the lobby, spacious hammock garden, a rocking chair lounge area, yoga studio, demonstration kitchen and juice bar. The outdoor amenity spaces will have lush greenery and green walls creating an inviting and relaxing oasis for residents.

MCAD Hosts First Annual Urban Warrior Awards

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The Miami Center for Architecture & Design promotes awareness and appreciation of the ways in which architecture and urban design influence and enhance the quality of life in our community.

On Thursday, April 19, MCAD will host the first annual Urban Warrior Awards. MCAD promotes awareness and appreciation of the ways in which architecture and urban design influence and enhance the quality of life in our community. The new signature event recognizes individuals who have accomplished much to better our urban landscape.

This year’s honorees include:

  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Miami architect and visionary, Ken Treister, FAIA, whose projects include the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach, Mayfair Shops in the Grove and Mayfair House Hotel
  • Visionary Award: Founder and President of The Underline, Meg Daly
  • Visionary Award: Owner of Books & Books, Mitch Kaplan

Enjoy cocktails, light bites, live music and more as they celebrate their honorees.

Urban Warrior Awards will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2018 from 6-9 p.m. at the mindwarehouse 111 NE 1st St., 7th Floor Downtown Miami.

Click here to register.

Stantec Designing Amenity-Driven Residential Buildings to Attract Millennials

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South Florida developers and architects are challenged to attract millennials by meeting both the price points and features that millennials are seeking. Multifamily residential developers must even re-think pricing, technological amenities, transportation and parking elements if they want to attract young buyers and renters. Architecture and design firm Stantec in Miami is implementing co-working spaces, communal kitchens and billiard lounges in their designs to appeal to this growing population. Their projects offer residents all the modern amenities to be expected of an upscale apartment community in an urban setting. According to Jon Cardello, Vice President of Stantec’s Miami office, “communal kitchens, like the ones at Vu New River in Fort Lauderdale, are a popular amenity for millennials. They are more likely to eat out or order takeout than cook at home, so they can have smaller kitchens in their apartments. The communal kitchens, with several ovens and a host of cooking appliances, allow them to throw parties and host family gatherings.”

Developers in South Florida are changing how they plan and design homes to attract the fast-growing millennial population, a group that faces unique challenges in the residential market.

Their construction initiatives are critical to preserving the building industry’s future bottom line. But businesses and cities have a stake, too. With more than 75 million people nationwide, the millennial generation will soon make up the heart of the workforce, and companies will decide to locate and grow in communities that can attract them.

“We are competing more with other cities in other states for housing options for them,’’ said Art Falcone, managing principal of Boca Raton-based Encore Capital Management.

For local developers, millennials present a huge opportunity – and a big challenge. The tri-county region ranks near the bottom among major metropolitan areas for millennials as a share of the total population, and leads the nation for the highest percentage of young people living with their parents.

High housing prices, below-average wages, and a strained transportation network present major obstacles to homeownership for millennials here. Deep college debt also means many recent graduates are on a tight budget, so they must be prudent with housing costs.

But developers are adapting, offering price points and features that differ from South Florida’s traditional garden apartments and country club communities to appeal to millennials.

To read the full story, visit South Florida Business Journal.

AIA Miami presents FitCity Miami 5 Conference

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AIA Miami has partnered with AARP, the Department of Health, and the Miami Center for Architecture & Design to host its fifth annual FitCity Miami 5 Conference on Thursday, February 22.

The annual conference delves into the intersection between health and the built environment and explores how the design of our cities – buildings, streets, public spaces and healthy food access – directly influence our community’s health and well-being. FitCity Miami presents the latest health findings for Americans focusing on the chronic diseases most affecting us today, such as obesity and diabetes.

This year’s conference will focus on Age-Friendly Active Design with a stress on public spaces and Senior Living communities. FitCity Miami encourages participants to expand their understanding of how the development of Age-Friendly communities in Miami-Dade has an important, measurable and long-term impact on public health.

Architects, planners, designers, public health professionals, academics, city managers, elected officials, community leaders and residents are invited to this open discourse on how policies, including design standards, infrastructure and building codes can be beneficial to community health and overall quality-of-life.

FitCity Miami 5 will feature keynote speaker Dr. Rodney Harrell, Director of Livability Thought Leadership at AARP; as well as Joanna Lombard, AIA, UM School of Architecture; Gensler’s Karla Valdivia, AIA; Christopher Adams, AIA; Shannon O’Kelley Berler, R.I.D., LEED AP, NEWH; with Adam Steinhoff, CEO of Dedicated IT; Maria Nardi, MDC Parks; Scott Brown, University of Miami Public Health.

FitCity Miami 5 will take place on Thursday, February 22 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Coral Gables Museum 235 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33134.

Click here to register.

Stantec to Design the First YotelPad Condo on the East Coast in Downtown Miami

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Stantec has been chosen for the architecture and interior design of the first YotelPad Condo on the East Coast in Downtown Miami. YotelPad Miami, an evolution from hotel to condo, will feature innovative, efficient spaces for hotel guests and condo owners. The project will include 208 residential units and 250 hotel rooms.

The first YotelPad condo on the East Coast will be part of the Yotel hotel project planned in downtown Miami.

This is the latest change to the 45-story project that has been in the works at 227 N.E. 2nd St. It will now have 208 residential units, ranging from 425-square-foot studios to 700-square-foot units with two bedrooms. Prices will start in the $250,000 range. Since they are a “micro unit” size, the floor plans will integrate the living, kitchen and dining areas into a single room to maximize space. Each unit will also have a dedicated storage space.

The project will also have 250 hotel rooms on the floor below the condos. There would be no on-site parking, so residents could use nearby garages.

The Yotel project is led by Aria Development Group and AQARAT, a Kuwaiti real estate company.

“Downtown Miami is emerging as a high-energy place to live, shop and work,” said David Arditi, principal of Aria Development Group. “With YotelPad Miami, we are meeting the strong demand for service-oriented, urban-chic apartments. In addition, owners have the unique opportunity to participate in a short-term rental program. Together with the Yotel brand, we are delivering a thoughtful, value-luxury experience in a dynamic location.”

Condo owners will have access to the hotel’s common areas and amenities, such as a coffee bar, a restaurant and bar, a fitness center, co-working space, a pool deck and a pet spa. The residents will also have an exclusive sky lounge with a game room, luxury living room and a chef’s kitchen.

Stantec is the architect of the project and the condo sales will be handled by One World Properties. The developers hope to compete the project in 2020.

To read the full story, visit South Florida Business Journal.

OBR Marketing Gains McKenzie as New Client

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Oberhausen Marketing & Public Relations is proud to announce the addition of McKenzie to its premier client list. McKenzie is a boutique Miami-based design, construction and custom fabrication firm that works with some of the most recognizable brands and high-end residences throughout the South Florida area. Their work reflects their passion for creating beautiful projects and spaces that improve the quality of life for those who utilize and inhabit them. They provide high-quality construction and craft fabrication services while implementing sustainable building practices whenever possible.

Whether working with an outside architect’s design or constructing an in-house design-build project created by one of their architects, McKenzie strives to make the built product as beautiful as its original concept. Their projects in construction and craft showcase their love for working with wood, metal and concrete.

McKenzie’s most recent works include the design and construction of Michael Schwartz’s latest concept, Genuine Pizza. Part of Genuine Hospitality, Genuine Pizza was formerly known as Harry’s Pizzeria. The new outpost officially opened its door inside Aventura Mall’s new expansion wing early December and is part of a multi-city expansion to 18 new locations – all of which are scheduled to be designed by McKenzie.

McKenzie also worked with French designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec to install a modular sun shade and seating system made from steel and colored glass in Miami Design District during Art Basel Miami Beach 2017. The permanent cloud-like canopy connects Paradise Plaza and Palm Court.

Additionally, McKenzie is serving as the executive architect and general contractor for Central Fare, a 50,000 square-foot food hall located at MiamiCentral. McKenzie is coordinating the design, construction and millwork of the project, and construction on Central Fare is slated to be completed by spring 2018.

Stay tuned to learn more about McKenzie’s upcoming projects.

Choeff Levy Fischman Makes a Splash in Luxury Pool Magazine

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Choeff Levy Fischman‘s unique approach to home and outdoor living designs made a splash in Luxury Pools + Outdoor Living Magazine’s 2017 Fall/Winter issue. The Choeff Levy Fischman team received recognition as a 2017 Pinnacle Awards winner recognizing some the year’s best in pool and outdoor living designs, principal Paul Fischman discusses designing outside the lines, and founding principal Ralph Choeff, explains how his expert architectural team combines modern architecture and tropical elements to create a shorefront splendor.

Overlooking Biscayne Bay, this residential property in Miami Beach, Florida, embodies mid-century modern architecture and tropical modernism, which is carried throughout the home and outdoor living areas. With a cohesive and masterful design, the expert architectural team at Choeff Levy Fischman, along with Christopher Cawley Landscape Architecture, brought this contemporary tropical oasis to life.

“Of the utmost importance was the concept of indoor-outdoor living,” says Ralph Choeff, founding principal at Choeff Levy Fischman. To accomplish this, the entire rear façade was designed with vast sliding glass doors, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors and maximizing the bay views from almost any room in the house.

“The pool and water features were strategically positioned to interact with the interior spaces,” adds Choeff. “The pool steps and integrated spa face downtown Miami and are positioned directly in front of the interior living room lounge. This setup allows the homeowner and guests to enjoying breathtaking views of the city while relaxing indoors or outside in the pool or spa.”

Incorporating natural waterscapes was a key element to the entire design. “We bring the water theme into play right from the beginning,” says Choeff. For the approach to the main entry, stone steps over reflecting ponds give the feeling of walking on water, he explains.

At night, the city and surrounding elements light up, creating a dramatic and enchanting effect as the lights in the reflecting ponds project upward and interact with the architecture of the home. In the evening, pool lighting enhances the blue tile, giving the pool an almost purplish hue.

The outdoor living spaces include multiple gathering areas around the pool, including a sunken outdoor living room with a mid-century style fire pit and a cabana containing a large outdoor kitchen and dining area. “The entire experience, combined with the indoor/outdoor layout of the residence, gives the outdoor entertaining spaces a resort-like feel,” comments Choeff.

Stained ipe wood establishes a warm yet somewhat monochromatic style while limestone decking contrasts with the iridescent blue tile used in the pool and spa. “This sets the pool apart,” says Choeff, “especially the aboveground areas that form the infinity edges.”

MCAD’s Active Design Miami Helps Make Key Biscayne a Healthier Place to Live

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The Miami Center for Architecture & Design worked with the Village of Key Biscayne to implement its latest initiative Active Design Miami and make the village a healthier place to live, work and play for all residents.

With its small size, natural beauty and health-conscious population, Key Biscayne is an ideal place for an innovative program aimed at using design to encourage active lifestyles.

Active Design Miami, a program inspired by New York City’s Active Design Guidelines, sets policy and design strategies to create healthier streets, open spaces and buildings. In Key Biscayne, it found an advocate in Village Council member Brett Moss, whose day job is an architect, general contractor and founder of MOSS Architecture + Design.

Moss, who frequently puts the Active Design standards into play for buildings his firm designs, said the Village joined several other South Florida communities earlier this year in adopting the standards as guiding principles. He would like to see that lead to development that promotes parks, outdoor activity, walking and biking, etc.

“I’m hoping that as we update our vision in Key Biscayne, we keep encouraging people to be outside and walk and bike to different places,” he said. “We should be looking at that in future policy making, zoning, codes and ordinances.”

Moss noted the Active Design philosophy focuses on parks and open spaces, development patterns, transportation and mobility. “I think it’s something that we’re always looking at in Key Biscayne anyway, so it was kind of a no-brainer for me to bring this to the Council.”

Cheryl Jacobs, executive vice president of Miami Center for Architecture and Design, which spearheads the Active Design Miami initiative, agreed Key Biscayne is the perfect place for the guidelines to play out. She applauded the Village for being an early adapter, becoming one of the first of 10 municipal governments and the Miami-Dade County government to sign on.

“Quality of life is really important in Key Biscayne, and anything a municipality can do to give residents an opportunity to have a better quality of life is a positive for that community,” Jacobs said. “Highlighting things like bike share, park access, golf cart access paths is really a quality of life issue. Key Biscayne adopted the concepts so readily, because they have already done some of these things.”

To read the full story, visit Islander News.

MCAD's Active Design Miami Helps Make Key Biscayne a Healthier Place to Live

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img_0194
The Miami Center for Architecture & Design worked with the Village of Key Biscayne to implement its latest initiative Active Design Miami and make the village a healthier place to live, work and play for all residents.
With its small size, natural beauty and health-conscious population, Key Biscayne is an ideal place for an innovative program aimed at using design to encourage active lifestyles.
Active Design Miami, a program inspired by New York City’s Active Design Guidelines, sets policy and design strategies to create healthier streets, open spaces and buildings. In Key Biscayne, it found an advocate in Village Council member Brett Moss, whose day job is an architect, general contractor and founder of MOSS Architecture + Design.
Moss, who frequently puts the Active Design standards into play for buildings his firm designs, said the Village joined several other South Florida communities earlier this year in adopting the standards as guiding principles. He would like to see that lead to development that promotes parks, outdoor activity, walking and biking, etc.
“I’m hoping that as we update our vision in Key Biscayne, we keep encouraging people to be outside and walk and bike to different places,” he said. “We should be looking at that in future policy making, zoning, codes and ordinances.”
Moss noted the Active Design philosophy focuses on parks and open spaces, development patterns, transportation and mobility. “I think it’s something that we’re always looking at in Key Biscayne anyway, so it was kind of a no-brainer for me to bring this to the Council.”
Cheryl Jacobs, executive vice president of Miami Center for Architecture and Design, which spearheads the Active Design Miami initiative, agreed Key Biscayne is the perfect place for the guidelines to play out. She applauded the Village for being an early adapter, becoming one of the first of 10 municipal governments and the Miami-Dade County government to sign on.
“Quality of life is really important in Key Biscayne, and anything a municipality can do to give residents an opportunity to have a better quality of life is a positive for that community,” Jacobs said. “Highlighting things like bike share, park access, golf cart access paths is really a quality of life issue. Key Biscayne adopted the concepts so readily, because they have already done some of these things.”
To read the full story, visit Islander News.

Stantec Flips the Script on Bland Office Kitchens

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suffolk_kitchenIt’s 2017 and the workplace lounge is not what it used to be. Gone are the days of generic tables and chairs, awful fluorescent lighting, and laminate countertops. These days, designers are kicking things up a notch to create a home-like space for that one special area in the office that serves as the heart and soul of employee gatherings – the office kitchen.

Companies of all sizes and specialties are revamping their office kitchens with modern design elements, bright colors, and warm welcoming furniture pieces that make you forget you’re on a lunch break at the office. Designers like those at Stantec Miami strive to create more welcoming environments where employees can gather and socialize comfortably, rather than eat at their desks. Most recently, Stantec Miami has designed unique office kitchen spaces for clients including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Inktel, Suffolk Construction, Hamburg Sud, and Hemisphere Media Group.

A few popular design trends Stantec is incorporating into office kitchen projects for its clients right now are pops of color using the company’s brand colors to emphasize a sense of place and unity, as well as physical spaces that encourage culture and engagement.

The choice of furniture, lighting and colors are all integral parts of inspiring beautifully designed spaces, but comfort and functionality are equally important. Check out some of our favorite workplace kitchen designs by Stantec below.pwc-kitchenhemisphere_kitchen