City of Miami Beach, Terra and GFO Investments Hold Groundbreaking For Daniel Buren-Designed Pedestrian Bridge

The City of Miami Beach, in partnership with developers Terra, led by David Martin, and GFO Investments, led by Russell Galbut, have broken ground on the colorful pedestrian bridge that will soon welcome millions of visitors who enter Miami Beach along 5 Street. Construction for the new Daniel Buren-designed landmark began in January and is expected to be completed by the summer or fall of 2026. The striking piece is being developed as part of a public-private partnership between the city and the Five Park development team. In 2022, Martin and Galbut delivered the Canopy Park to the community under a similar arrangement that paved the way for the adjacent 48-story Arquitectonica-designed condo tower that opened late last year.

“Our new pedestrian bridge isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about safety, accessibility, and walkability," said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. "By providing a secure and enjoyable way to cross one of our busiest roadways, we're making Miami Beach safer and more connected.

“This project represents a transformative milestone for Miami Beach, blending world-class public art and practical connectivity to enhance the urban experience,” said Martin, CEO of Terra. “Daniel Buren’s visionary design elevates a simple pedestrian bridge into a work of art, while providing much-needed accessibility and connectivity between some of our city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. We are proud to partner with the City of Miami Beach and GFO Investments to deliver this landmark as part of the Five Park development.”

More than a bridge, the Fifth Street Pedestrian Bridge is the crowning gem that will complete the area's circulation network, linking the South of Fifth and West Avenue neighborhoods. This elevated crossing will connect the city’s popular Beachwalk amenity in South Pointe Park to the coming Baywalk amenity. Once completed, the bridge will enhance bicycle and pedestrian travel for residents and visitors alike.

Buren, an internationally acclaimed French conceptual artist, is celebrated for his work at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain as well as his work at the acclaimed international cultural exhibition in Italy, the Venice Biennale. The Miami Beach project is expected to redefine the city’s urban landscape, becoming a signature architectural and artistic achievement.

Known for creating some of the world’s most iconic public art installations — such as the black-and-white marble columns at the Palais Royal in Paris and the vibrant sails of colored glass at the Louis Vuitton Foundation — Buren’s 158-foot enclosed pedestrian bridge will feature a mosaic of vibrant, translucent panels, which transform sunlight into a kaleidoscope of colors, casting dynamic patterns across the walkway and street below.

Designed with accessibility in mind, the bridge will feature elevators and stairs that are thoughtfully integrated into the surrounding landscaping and greenery, ensuring ease of use for all residents and visitors.

Upon completion, the bridge will offer effortless access to Miami Beach’s premier attractions, including world-class dining, luxury retail, wellness centers, arts venues and elevated nightlife experiences, further enhancing the city’s vibrant appeal.

The project was partially funded by a General Obligation Bond approved by City of Miami Beach voters in 2018.

Images via City of Miami Beach, Terra and GFO Investments

Only Luxury Condominium to be Delivered in South Beach This Year Tops Off

Terra, led by David Martin, and GFO Investments, led by Russell Galbut, topped out construction for Five Park Miami Beach, the only high-rise residential condominium delivered in South Beach this year. A visual beacon marking the entryway into Miami Beach, the development pairs a landmark residential tower with the adjacent three-acre Canopy Park and art-inspired Canopy Bridge. The 519-foot development will become the tallest building in Miami Beach upon its completion in 2023.

"Five Park delivers on every element of luxury living as the tallest tower on Miami Beach.  Uniquely connecting the South of Fifth neighborhood to the West Avenue district, Five Park brings the park to the boardwalk as the only tower rising in the area," said Jay Phillip Parker, President of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, Florida. “It’s a project that elevates the caliber of the neighborhood and a perfect representation of a development built to meet the discerning demands of Miami’s new buyer’s needs. Five Park achieves an unprecedented level of quality, very different from what has been built in the last decade, thanks to David and Russell’s collaboration and their unique understanding of the surrounding needs.”

Rising on the edge of Miami Beach, the 48-story tower has unveiled 50,000 square feet of diverse amenity spaces with a choreographed team available round-the-clock. On the 6th floor, overlooking city and bay views, residents are invited to The Park Club. Anchored by an expansive pool and café terrace, the elevated oasis features a lap and family pool with covered cabanas, loungers and social spaces with indoor or al fresco dining options. Additionally, The Park Club amenity level features a variety of wellness, work and entertainment spaces including a fully outfitted gym and spa treatment rooms, a co-working area with private offices and board rooms, screening rooms and more. On the ground floor, Five Park boasts its very own backyard oasis, Canopy Park. Spanning three acres, the community amenity offers a refuge from city living with a botanic garden, interactive MONSTRUM playground, dog park and event lawn. 

Five Park was conceptualized by a visionary team of designers, architects and tastemakers with an exceptional understanding of beauty, functionality and service. The roster of project collaborators includes interior design firm Gabellini Shepard; Arquitectonica, leading architectural plans; design maven Anda Andrei; French conceptual artist, Daniel Buren; and Sarah Harrelson, founder of Cultured Magazine, leading the interior art curation.

Five Park also has revealed the Canopy Bridge, set to break ground in early 2024, an overhead bridge designed by Daniel Buren, recognized worldwide for his site-specific art installations. The 158-foot-long enclosed pedestrian tube will connect the site anchored by Five Park to the South of Fifth neighborhood for the first time.

Terra And Crescent Heights Break Ground On Canopy Park In South Beach

Terra and Crescent Heights, along with development partner New Valley, have broken ground on Canopy Park, located at the gateway to South Beach at after winning approval from the Miami Beach City Commission last year. The developers are building a three-acre public park, named Canopy Park, alongside a new residential tower at 500 Alton Road. Terra is led by David Martin and Crescent Heights is led by Russel Galbut, both longtime local Miami-based developers.

The three-acre park, located between the 600 and 700 blocks of Alton Road, will include open green-spaces shaded by native tree species, pedestrian and bike paths, an outdoor gym and dog run, a MONSTRUM-designed children’s playground, and public art displays. Canopy Park will be connected to the South of Fifth neighborhood and the Miami Beach baywalk via a new pedestrian bridge over I-395. The pedestrian bridge was designed by artist Daniel Buren and has been dubbed the Miami Beach Canopy. Construction of Miami Beach’s newest world-class city amenity is now underway, with completion estimated for Summer 2021. Canopy Park is located at the site of the former South Shore Hospital which the developers recently demolished.

“Canopy Park will be a gateway for the City of Miami Beach, a destination for visitors, and an everyday amenity for residents, so we’ve taken the time to assemble a team of design, art and planning visionaries who have led some of the most transformational projects in the world,” said David Martin, President of Terra. “The end result will be an active park and design experience that rivals public spaces in the world’s greatest cities.”

“World class cities and neighborhoods are defined by their public spaces, and Miami Beach is home to some of the most desirable parks and open spaces anywhere,” said City of Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. “Our City’s newest public green space, Canopy Park, will quickly become a welcomed amenity for nearby residents and a favorite gathering spot for our entire community.”

The development team has enlisted an ensemble of artists, designers and architects who will bring the park to life, including architects Bernardo Fort-Brescia & Raymond Fort of Arquitectonica; landscape architect Laurinda Spear of ArquitectonicaGEO; design advisors Daniel Vasini of West 8, Anda Andrei of Anda Andrei Design, and Michael Gabellini and Kim Sheppard of Gabellini Sheppard Associates; and art advisor Lisa Austin. 

A major design component of Canopy Park will feature a “natural play” playground by Danish design firm MONSTRUM, which is famous for creating artistic and architectural playscapes around the world. Standout elements of the playground will include a giant butterfly, a mangrove forest and a caterpillar slide enabling children to jump, climb, balance, and express their inner imaginations.

The Miami Beach Canopy pedestrian bridge, subtitled Walking Under, Along, and On the Colors: work in-situ by Daniel Buren, will complete the Miami Beach Baywalk, creating a safe and seamless connection running from Southpointe Park north to the Lincoln Road District and east to the beachfront. The Canopy will become an instant icon for Miami Beach and a beloved work of public art that guides pedestrians along a rainbow of colorful shadows. Completion of the Miami Beach Canopy pedestrian bridge is anticipated for 2022.

Plans for Canopy Park also include an array of sustainability and resiliency features, including habitat restoration, vegetation, biodiversity, native plant communities, irrigation, water conservation and rainwater management. The park will also serve as an educational resource to inform and inspire the public about resilience and sustainability efforts being made by the city.

Design By Daniel Buren For South Beach’s New Pedestrian Bridge Over 5th Street Revealed

Russell Galbut and David Martin have revealed the chosen design for Miami Beach’s new pedestrian bridge at 5th Street which will serve as the gateway to South Beach. The winning design is by French artist Daniel Buren and features a colorful tube of transparent glass panels offering views of Biscayne Bay. Commissioners unanimously voted for the design which will go before the Design Review Board in September 2019. The bridge will connect the South Pointe Park baywalk with the new Park on Fifth which is part of Galbut and Martin’s proposal to transform the former South Shore Hospital site with a tower, which is being designed by Arquitectonica, and a 3-acre park. When complete the tower will rise 44-stories, offering 410 luxury units which the developer will be allowed to rent as short term rentals with a minimum term of 30 days per rental. Bridge construction will be funded by a $10 million General Obligation Bond which voters approved in November 2018. Construction could begin before the end of the year based on approval by the Design Review Board.