Snøhetta-Designed Office and Retail Building Breaks Ground in Miami Design District, Atria Health and Research Institute To Anchor Landmark Mixed-Use Development

Miami Design District Associates (MDDA) and Raycliff Capital have broken ground on their forthcoming landmark mixed-use development designed by Snøhetta, the internationally acclaimed architecture firm established in Oslo and New York City. The architecturally iconic mixed-use office and retail development also announced several leasing milestones, marking an important step in the continued evolution of the Miami Design District.

Anchoring the leasing activity is Atria Health and Research Institute, which has officially signed approximately 55,000 square feet across the building's third, fourth, and fifth floors with a private, ground-floor entrance, marking the project's first confirmed tenant. Atria will bring its membership-based preventive health and longevity offerings to the Design District and serve the entire Miami community. Atria has locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Palm Beach, with more in development globally. Atria’s new location, designed by David Rockwell, further reinforces the property's positioning as a destination for organizations shaping the future of health, innovation, and human performance

Also joining the project is alternative asset management firm 26North, founded by Josh Harris and managing approximately $38 billion across its private equity, private credit and insurance platforms. Together, these commitments reflect the development’s appeal to leading firms seeking a presence within one of Miami’s most dynamic mixed-use neighborhoods.

Designed by Snøhetta, the eight-story development will introduce approximately 120,500 square feet of office and retail space to the neighborhood, including approximately 22,500 square feet of retail and more than 92,000 square feet of office space. The building is conceived as a new architectural focal point within the District, defined by layered “veiled” volumes, planted terraces and a luminous mesh façade that shifts throughout the day in response to changing light conditions.

Snøhetta is an internationally recognized, transdisciplinary design practice with studios in Oslo, New York, Innsbruck, Paris, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Melbourne. Founded in 1989 by Kjetil Trædal Thorsen and Craig Dykers, the firm works across architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, product design, and graphic design, with an approach rooted in collaboration, contextual sensitivity, and human experience.

Named after a prominent Norwegian mountain, Snøhetta is known for dissolving traditional disciplinary boundaries through an integrated, dialogue-driven process. The firm first gained international recognition with its competition-winning design for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, followed by landmark projects including the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo, the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion in New York, and the redesign of Times Square.

Miami Design District Associates (MDDA) is a joint venture between Dacra, founded and owned by visionary entrepreneur Craig Robins; L Catterton Real Estate, a global real estate development and investment fund specializing in creating luxury shopping destinations; and Brookfield Properties, which ranks among the largest retail real estate companies in the United States.

Together they control the Miami Design District, a 30-acre experiential mixed-use neighborhood renowned for its unparalleled collection of luxury retail. The partners continue to develop and enhance this global destination by presenting the best shopping, cultural, and culinary experiences within an architecturally significant context.

The September 30 groundbreaking marked the beginning of construction on the project, with completion anticipated in early 2028. Together, these leasing commitments underscore the continued evolution of the Miami Design District as a destination where architecture, commerce, culture and innovation converge.

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Spicy Hospitality Group Opens Celebrated Milanese Trattoria 'Le Specialità' In Miami Design District

Spicy Hospitality Group, the visionary hospitality collective at the intersection of cuisine, culture, and design—and the team behind The Joyce, with several forthcoming concepts in Miami, New York, and California—has officially opened U.S. debut of Le Specialità in the Miami Design District.

A Milanese institution since 1977, Le Specialità is celebrated for its authentic Italian cooking, trattoria spirit, and iconic pizza—a local gem where honest food is elevated by grounded hospitality, exceptional ingredients, and a touch of glamour. The restaurant embodies Italian dining in its purest form: genuine, familiar, and always exciting—an experience that moves from an elegant dinner to a spirited serata, where every night feels like a gathering among friends.

Since opening on Via Pietro Calvi nearly five decades ago, Le Specialità has defined the Milanese dining experience: simple yet sophisticated, seasonal, and rooted in the finest ingredients. Guided by the Italian philosophy that food, wine, and hospitality are extensions of art and lifestyle, the restaurant captures the balance between Italian familiarity and fine-dining precision, where hospitality feels effortless and deeply human. Its Miami outpost carries this legacy forward, channeling the creative pulse of its new home to create a setting where art meets taste. Here, the neighborhood trattoria elevates the most genuine, laid-back Italian dining experience through uncompromising quality, bridging Milan’s timeless dining culture with the city’s ever-evolving energy.

“Bringing Le Specialità to the U.S. marks a major milestone for Spicy Hospitality Group. The restaurant has long been a cornerstone of Milan’s dining culture and the Miami Design District is the ideal setting for its American debut, reflecting our vision to build a collection of restaurants that embody the creativity, ambition, and energy of this city.” Said Andre Sakhai, Principal & Founder, Spicy Hospitality Group

MENU & BEVERAGE PROGRAM

At the heart of Le Specialità’s legacy is its dedication to simplicity and excellence. The restaurant’s approach to Italian cuisine emphasizes seasonality, quality, and authenticity, honoring the traditions that have defined its Milanese roots while introducing new creations inspired by Miami’s international palate.

The menu spans a refined selection of housemade pastas, seafood, and meats, complemented by the restaurant’s signature pizza offerings, a hallmark of its Milanese heritage. Known for transforming the classic pizza into a local legend—light, crisp, and precisely leavened—Le Specialità brings that same craftsmanship to Miami with selections including the Margherita, Truffle Pizza, and Piccantissimi with chili pepper pesto and pine nuts.

The secondi offerings pay homage to timeless Italian preparations with dishes such as Branzino alla Siciliana, Dover Sole Meunière, and Veal Milanese, each executed with balance and precision. The menu concludes with a selection of refined Italian desserts, including house-made gelato in pistachio, dark chocolate, nocciola, vanilla, crema italiana, and salted caramel, as well as a classic tiramisu layered with mascarpone mousse, espresso, ladyfingers, and cocoa.

The robust beverage program is anchored by a 260-label wine list rooted in Italy’s most renowned regions and complemented by select vintages from Burgundy and Bordeaux—among them 1990 Le Pin, 1986 Pétrus, and 1952 Pavie. The list features an exceptional collection of Barolo, Barbaresco, and Brunello di Montalcino dating back three decades. The program is rounded out by signature cocktails such as the Milano Mai Tai, Fragola Basilico, and Espresso Italiano, each designed to pair seamlessly with the menu.

ART & DESIGN

Central to the concept is an eclectic art collection curated by Andre Sakhai, featuring vintage Italian photography alongside works from his personal archives, including pieces by Jean-Michel Basquiat, KAWS, Rashid Johnson, Peter Saul, Joel Mesler, John Wesley, Takashi Murakami, and Richard Prince. Together, these elements create an atmosphere that captures the artistic soul of Milan and the character of its new Miami home.

“The art sets the tone for the whole space. It’s what brings personality and depth to the design. We wanted pieces that felt authentic to Milan but still made sense in Miami—something timeless, bold, and unexpected. The collection helps tell the story of two cultures that share a love for creativity, color, and expression.” Said Andre Sakhai, Principal & Founder, Spicy Hospitality Group

For its Miami debut, Spicy Hospitality Group enlisted the acclaimed architecture and design firm Rockwell Group to create a space where Milan meets Miami. Drawing from Milan’s radical design movement of the 1960s and 1970s and Miami’s colorful, celebratory culture, the interiors embrace a “radical retro chic” ethos—sophisticated yet playful, glamorous yet unpretentious.

“The design concept for Le Specialita blends the bold, playful, and artistic spirit of Milan in the 1960s and 70s with the rich, dynamic, and festive culture of present-day Miami. Sweeping curves and oversized graphic elements define each space in the restaurant.” Said David Rockwell, Founder and President, Rockwell Group.

Guests first encounter the 100-seat restaurant through a lively cluster of sidewalk seating before entering a dynamic interior defined by sweeping curves, bold geometries, and rich textures. Standout elements include:

• A green lavastone bar set with red leather stools, backed by a glowing mirrored wine wall with champagne-nickel accents.

• Terrazzo floors embedded with metal stripe inlay, echoing the diagonal wood beams above, nodding to Milan’s Supergraphic era.

• A dramatic pizza oven clad in black-and-white terrazzo mosaic, framed by a wood butcher block chef’s bar that allows guests to witness the action up close.

• Dining areas punctuated by striped leather booths inspired by vintage Ferraris, lavastone tabletops, and bold lacquered finishes.

• Custom furnishings and fixtures sourced in collaboration with Artemest, the destination gallery for Italian design and décor

• The powder rooms serve as whimsical “portals” between Milan and Miami, with colorful chandeliers, pink terrazzo, and pastel custom mirrors. The outdoor terrace extends the vibrant atmosphere with striped canopies, colorful upholstery, and space for casual al fresco dining.

Images via Spicy Hospitality Group