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Local Architects Aim to Bring Diversity to the Industry

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blog-10-15-2Over the years, the U.S. has produced few African American architects. Noticing the lack of diversity, architect and co-owner of MC Harry & Associates, Craig Aquart, launched Black Architects in the Making to introduce African American youth to the field.

CBS 4 News visited Aquart’s firm to learn more about BAM and meet the students.

Craig Aquart is a veteran architect and co-owner of M C Harry & Associates headquartered in Miami.

Even though he has dozens of projects in development, he is on a mission to spread what he calls the gospel of Architecture.

CBS4 recently visited Aquart while he and his staff hosted a group of students from the community to expose them to various career opportunities in the field.

“I did some research and found out that of the 113-thousand registered architects in the United States, less than two-thousand architects were actually black and the statistics were even worse when you look at black females. There were only 430 in the field. I realized there was a disparity there and one of the reasons for that is the awareness in the black community is severely lacking,” said Aquart.

In response, Aquart created BAM, which stands for Black Architects in the Making with the support of the Miami Center for Architecture & Design (MCAD).

For the last two years he and his staff have hosted workshops for students in Overtown, Liberty City and Richmond Heights just to name a few.

“We encourage students to sketch regularly, and like everything else practice makes perfect,” said Aquart. He advises students to at least sketch one image per day.

Aquart says BAM has reached more than 300 students in two years.

To read more, visit CBS4 here.

 

Choeff Levy Fischman Design Featured in Ocean Home Magazine

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screen-shot-2018-10-08-at-1-44-40-pmChoeff Levy Fischman has designed countless of luxury Tropical Modern homes throughout South Florida and beyond. Principals Ralph Choeff, Raphael Levy, and Paul Fischman have elevated the firm’s quality of design to garner the attention of global entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, NFL players, MLB players, and Hollywood celebrities. Their designs have been recognized for combining indoor-outdoor living and environmentally conscious elements into their designs.

Most recently, the firm was recognized in Ocean Home Magazine where they were included in the magazine’s November issue for a home they designed in Miami Beach for racing legend Eddie Irvine. Ocean Home has also recognized CLF as one of the country’s Top 50 Coastal Architects for the past three years.

The former Formula 1 driver for Ferrari and Jaguar – he won four Grand Prix races in 1999 – splits his time between Europe, the Bahamas, and Florida. He’s also building houses, and very nice ones at that.

“He builds really spectacular Tropical Moderns in Miami and Miami Beach,” says landscape architect Christopher Crawley. “He has impeccable taste.”

For his newest home in Hibiscus Island in Miami Beach, Irvine approached Ralph Choeff, principal with Choeff Levy Fischman. Known for cutting-edge design, the firm has come to redefine the midcentury modern style in Florida. And they’re acknowledged masters of the Tropical Modern idiom.

To read more, visit page 53 in Ocean Home Magazine’s digital version here.

Stantec Completes Solitair Brickell, Miami’s Newest and Boldest Residential Building

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Stantec has made its own unique mark in the Miami skyline with the design of the new 50-story Solitair Brickell residential building. The tower features a unique zig-zagging façade that’s inspired by the Medjool date palm tree.

Miami’s architectural landscape, especially surrounding Brickell City Centre, is synonymous with reinvention. The latest beacon of change is Solitair Brickell, a bold residential tower designed by Stantec and developed by ZOM Living. The 50-story high-rise sports a unique angular basket-weave facade that riffs on the Medjool date palm tree commonly seen in South Florida. Inside, 438 residential units ranging from studios to two penthouse suites come with millennial-friendly amenities such as a billiards lounge, luxury cabanas, one of Miami’s highest rooftop resort–style pools, a fitness center, outdoor yoga space, and 6,200 square feet of ground retail space.

To read more visit Interior Design.

FRONTIER Building Breaks Ground On New Krispy Kreme

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9-4-18

Be on the lookout for that famous “HOT NOW” Krispy Kreme sign. FRONTIER Building has broken ground on its first Krispy Kreme project. Construction is underway for an updated storefront to replace the existing location.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE: KKD) broke ground Monday on a new North Miami store.

The doughnut and coffee chain company aims to replace its store at 590 N.E. 167th St. with a new one at 530 N.E. 167th St. Once the new store is completed, the current location will be redeveloped as a Wawa gas and convenient store.

Miami-based Frontier Building is overseeing the development of the 3,576-square-foot store. Expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019, the store will feature a drive-thru and 11 parking space.

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

Photo by: Willy de la Cruz

Miami Center for Architecture & Design Moves into New Space

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The Miami Center of Architecture & Design recently celebrated the grand opening of its new space. Located at 310 SE 1st St., it is in the heart of Downtown Miami, bringing visibility to the organization, and the design and build of the environment.
With community meeting space and educational programs, MCAD is the place for anyone who is interested in enhancing their appreciation for the city’s vibrant and unique architecture and design. MCAD is home to AIA Miami as well as the Downtown Miami Welcome Center, in partnership with the Miami Downtown Development Authority. The Welcome Center is everything Miami – cultural events, attractions, maps, history and more.  MCAD educates the public through exhibitions, lectures, tours, film series and other programs that aim to reveal the richness of design in Miami.
To stay up to date with MCAD’s events. Visit https://miamicad.org/.

PCCSF’s Dr. Greissman Discusses Meningitis with HealthyWay

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What may seem as a normal cold or flu could instead be the potentially life-threatening infection, meningitis. Because it’s important to act quickly, patients should understand the telltale signs of meningitis and take the appropriate medical action. Dr. Allan Greissman of Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida shared with HealthyWay what symptoms patients should look out for.

Everyone gets sick from time to time. But sometimes, what we think of as a normal cold or flu might actually be far more dangerous. With flu season fast approaching, it’s important to understand and recognize the difference between normal illness and more serious conditions.

If flu-like symptoms come on and escalate quickly, it may mean you or a loved one has actually contracted meningitis. Meningitis is an infection that causes our meninges—the membranes that provide a protective barrier for the brain and spinal cord—to swell.

Meningitis is a serious condition that requires immediate attention from a medical professional. It can be life-threatening if left untreated, so it is important to understand the telltale symptoms. When you can spot symptoms early on, you can quickly seek out medical attention that can mitigate the negative effects of the disease.

Understanding the Types of Meningitis

There are a few different types of meningitis, but bacterial and viral meningitis are the two most common.

Bacterial meningitis is the most severe form of meningitis and can be fatal, especially if treatment is delayed. There are many types of bacteria that can cause meningitis, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group B Streptococcus, and Listeria monocytogenes.

Thankfully, the introduction of and increased access to safe and effective vaccines resulted in a steady decrease in bacterial meningitis cases since the 1990s. However, cases that do occur are dangerous and can be fatal if left untreated.

Bacterial meningitis is treated with oral or IV antibiotics, and treatment can last between 10 and 21 days, according to Allan Greissman, MD, of Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida.

The second most commonly experienced meningitis is viral meningitis. Although there is no vaccine for viral meningitis, you can be vaccinated against some of the viruses that could cause meningitis, like measles, mumps, or influenza.

It helps to think of viral meningitis as a potential complication of these other viruses. This means that, although you might catch measles, mumps, or the flu from someone with viral meningitis, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will also develop viral meningitis.

“Viral meningitis will run its course and should not [be], and is not, treated with IV antibiotics,” says Greissman. He notes that one exception is a form of viral meningitis caused by the herpes viruses, which is treated with an antiviral medication.

To read the full story, visit Healthy Way.

Wesley Kean, Principal & Founder of Award-Winning Architecture and Design Firm, KoDA

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© Azeez Bakare Studios

© Azeez Bakare Studios


Architect Wesley Kean, Principal & Founder of Miami Beach-based architecture and design firm KoDA, is designing with ambition for its clients and optimism for the world. He is an expert in connecting architecture with nature and finding radical solutions to sea-level rise and other environmental concerns conducive to South Florida and other coastal communities.
Wesley and his team specialize in offering creative solutions and design services for all scales and types of architecture including retail, residential and large urban projects.
The award-winning firm uses analysis and research to develop the design of highly distinctive buildings, landscapes, interiors and experiences. Wesley is a leader in Metabolism, a post-war Japanese architectural movement that fused ideas about architectural mega structures with those of organic biological growth. His view on “How Metabolist Ideas Can Potentially Solve Sea-Level Rise Vulnerability” has been published in AIA’s Florida/Caribbean Architect magazine.
An active member of the AIA and NCARB and a visiting critic at the University of Miami, Florida International University and Miami-Dade College, the New Hampshire native is also a champion of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a member of the Miami Music Project soundboard. For the upcoming Miami Art Week, Wesley will be showcasing his artistic talents. As part of a creative campaign for the Miami Music Project, KoDA’s “Miami Music Box” exhibit will be on display at RAW POP UP art show that’s taking place at the historic Burdines flagship building in downtown Miami.
Head to KoDA’s website or follow them on social media @kodamiami.

Construction at SoLē Mia Picks Up

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Construction is rapidly picking up at SoLē Mia – a community that will rise at 15045 Biscayne Boulevard. As the largest project in North Miami’s history, SoLē Mia is set to become South Florida’s next iconic neighborhood blending the serenity of open spaces with the vibrancy of an urban center.

Construction on the site went vertical at the end of 2017 with SoLē Mia’s first two residential towers and the Warren Henry Automobile Dealership consisting of Land Rover, Jaguar and Infiniti. The site’s Costco is quickly moving along and will be a tenant of The Shops at SoLē Mia. The development will reshape the North Miami landscape and transform the area into an exciting destination for guests and residents. When completed, SoLē Mia Miami will feature 4,390 residences, approximately 500,000 square feet of lifestyle shopping, emerald green community parks, chef-driven restaurants, entertainment venues and office spaces.

With construction on the SoLē Mia site pushing forward, SoLē Mia’s Local Preference Office is offering City of North Miami residents short- and long-term job opportunities in various construction trades.

Stantec Breaks Ground on Atelier in the Dallas Arts District

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7-9-18

Global architecture and design firm Stantec has broken ground on Atelier, the 41-story residential building located in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. Atelier, which means “artist workshop”, is designed to support the District’s local artists and residents with an appreciation for the arts and urban living.

The mixed-use high-rise will feature 364 luxury residential units and 52 mixed-income artist’s lofts that include 43 affordable artist residences. The project also includes an amenity deck with a pool, 15,000 square-feet of retail and gallery and exhibit space.

“Atelier is being built on the idea of patronage. The building’s modern design will integrate with its neighboring performing and visual arts venues, while also supporting local artists, residents and community members who share a common need to create beauty,” said Andrew Burnett, principal at Stantec’s Miami office, which is leading the architecture and interior design of Atelier.

After years of waiting, developers are set to break ground today on Atelier, which in its most recent incarnation is a 41-story luxury high‐rise in the Dallas Arts District.

The mixed‐use development, which is marketing itself as the tallest rental tower in the Dallas area, will be comprised of 364 residential tower units with sweeping views of Uptown and downtown Dallas.

The project between the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center will have over 26,000 square feet of amenity space and 15,000 square feet of onsite retail.

Atelier is also planned to be home to Flora Lofts, 52 affordable artist lofts developed by DFW architect Graham Greene.

In addition, there will be 157 hourly‐fee public parking spaces in the underground structure and 553 resident spaces in a 10‐story parking garage.

Orlando-based multifamily developer Zom Living is developing Atelier in partnership with affiliates of Daiwa House Texas Inc. and Itochu Corp.

To read more, visit The Dallas Business Journal.

Why Amazon Should Choose Miami for HQ2

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Yesterday, it was announced that Miami made Amazon’s top 20 list of potential cities for its second headquarters, HQ2. The new facility will cost at least $5 billion to construct and operate and will create as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs. Home to a diverse population that is entrepreneurial by nature, here’s why we think Miami is the perfect spot for Amazon’s HQ2:

– Jeff Bezos is a Miami Palmetto Senior High alumnus! In 1982, he was valedictorian, a National Merit Scholar and Silver Knight award winner, and he was already beginning to make big plans for his future. I guess you can say Miami molded him for success, so this is his opportunity to give back!

– Miami’s startup sector is booming! Just last year, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area ranked No. 1 among 40 of the largest metro areas in the country for startups.

– With over 2,000 daily nonstop flights to major cities across the United States and the world, Miami is considered one of the country’s most well-connected cities.

– With proximity and access to major markets, Miami’s multilingual workforce understands global business. Businesses in a multicultural city, like Miami, can draw employees from different backgrounds and experiences to create innovative ideas.

– Florida’s new Brightline regional train system will connect Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach enabling passengers (and potential employees) to commute faster throughout South Florida.

– Home to hundreds of thousands of college students, Miami appeals to a vibrant millennial community. By being connected to the Internet throughout childhood and early adulthood, Millennials have a different perspective on how to lead, communicate and market.

As Amazon aims to stay competitive in the global marketplace, they should focus on a diverse, metropolitan region like Miami. With its history of welcoming all nationalities and languages, Miami is positioned to continue growing, and we hope it will do so with Amazon in its backyard.