PMG and YUPIX Expand Partnership To Launch New Projects In Meta-Reality

YUPIX, an immersive technology platform that is revolutionizing the real estate industry, has expanded their partnership with nationwide developer Property Markets Group (PMG) following unparalleled sales in their first project together, E11EVEN Hotel & Residences, co-developed by E11EVEN Partners. This second phase in the ongoing partnership puts four exclusive new residential towers across Miami in front of high-net-worth buyers through multisensory meta-reality tours before construction begins.

Data from YUPIX’s meta-reality tours with PMG have shown a high sales conversion rate above 90% in multi-million dollar residences. A testament to the technology’s power to influence decision making, over $700 million were generated in direct sales over a 5-month period as a result of the YUPIX tours for E11EVEN Residences.

“Our partnership with YUPIX has been extremely successful and we are excited to expand it to our other projects,” said Ryan Shear, Managing Partner of PMG. “YUPIX’s immersive experience is one of the many reasons why E11EVEN Residences Beyond has been so well received. Virtual Reality and meta technology are tools that help us as developers work more efficiently and help buyers make more informed decisions.”

YUPIX’s cutting-edge technology will be on display in each building’s sales gallery and pop-up activations, allowing prospective buyers to interact with meta-reality simulations of a tower’s opulent amenities, panoramic views, and high-design residences. Using high-definition headsets and an acute attention to detail, the tours allow participants to gain a deeper perception of each development - like walking through various unit layouts and visualizing customized finishes. With Miami a booming market for international buyers, YUPIX showcases projects to a global audience by offering tours in cities around the world - from Dubai and New York to Mexico City and Nassau.

“Our technology’s hyper-realistic content offers users the opportunity to experience a product from anywhere in the world before construction even begins,” said Patricio Navarro, CEO of YUPIX. “It disrupts the industry’s traditional sales process; allowing developers to sell the most expensive units and penthouses before breaking ground, which is historically unheard of.”

The YUPIX Arena is located at 2811 NW 5 Ave., Miami, FL 33127, and offers tours by appointment only.

Micah Johnson Debut's Aku World For Miami Art Week As Digital NFT Astronaut Enters Physical World In Partnership With FTX US

Aku, the digital explorer and crypto-native NFT IP created by artist and former MLB player Micah Johnson, will come to life for the first time since its inception with Aku World: Miami presented by FTX US from December 2-4, 2021 in the vibrant Wynwood Arts District. Aku World: Miami will be Aku's first introduction to the physical world, bringing friends and collaborators across art, music, fashion and technology together in one space. The visually-stunning, multilayered event will showcase the otherworldly dimension of Aku and allow guests to step out of reality and into the metaverse through carefully curated exhibits that blur the lines between NFT technology and IRL experiences.

“Aku World is a world built around dreams. It was imperative to incorporate talented artists and designers who have achieved their dreams into the world and it’s our mission to inspire everyone who walks through the door,” said Micah Johnson, creator of Aku. Through a partnership with leading cryptocurrency exchange FTX US, attendees will be able to sign up for their own crypto wallet, collect NFTs throughout the space via hidden QR codes, and purchase digital artworks by legendary 3D artist, Raf Grassetti, as well as unique Aku digital works. Top-tier ticket holders will have exclusive access to the Minting Room presented by FTX US, where they can create their own 4D-scanned avatar that lives within the Aku universe and mint them into NFTs, which they can later trade, sell or display in their digital wallets.

Attendees can shop on-site via the Merch Room, which will host three days of exclusive merch collaborations with VIP guest collaborators Pusha-T, Jerome LaMaar and Aleali May, with each day dedicated to a single limited time, limited edition collection, available for pre-order at the event and online.

Aku’s Collection, curated by Art Angels, will tell more of Aku’s story through an art installation for guests to explore and interact with. A special curation of young Black artists including Jade Yasmeen, Asiko, Floyd Strickland, and Solomon Omogboye will be exhibited alongside two new original paintings by Micah Johnson, as well as three screen prints by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Guests will have the opportunity to view and purchase original artworks on-site.

Conceptualized by renowned creative and experiential studio MATTE Projects, the 30,000 square foot space will house a futuristic lifesize art installation of Aku’s Helmet, where guests can experience three otherworldly dimensions of Aku. The Blue Room will host exciting, informal panel conversations led by leaders in art, fashion, music and crypto, and The Patio will provide food and beverages for guests. Aku World: Miami will also host an invite-only VIP opening party on December 2nd with an intimate live musical performance by Kehlani.

Conceived by Micah Johnson in February 2021, Aku has since become the first NFT to be optioned for film and television projects and is the first NFT to travel to space. Aku is a conduit to empower the next generation of explorers and dreamers.

Aku World: Miami will be held at Wynwood Arts 29 (95 NW 29th St, Miami, FL 33127). The ticketed event will be open to the public on December 2-4 from 12pm-7pm daily. Tickets are on-sale now. Visit aku.world for more information.

Follow Aku on Instagram @aku.dreams, Twitter @AkuDreams and Discord.

Meet Aku:

• Digital explorer conceptualized by Micah Johnson in February 2021

• Created to empower the next generation of explorers and dreamers

• First NFT to be optioned for film and TV projects & to travel to space

Explore the Dimensions of Aku World:

• Aku’s Helmet: A futuristic lifesize installation of Aku’s Helmet will invite guests to experience and interact with multiple different worlds of Aku

• Curated Exhibitions: by young Black artists Jade Yasmeen, Asiko, Floyd Strickland, and Solomon Omogboye, alongside two original paintings by Micah Johnson, and screen prints by Jean-Michel Basquiat

• The Merch Room: will host exclusive merch collaborations with VIP guest collaborators Pusha-T, Jerome LaMaar, and Aleali May. Each day will be dedicated to a single limited time, limited edition collection, available for pre-order at the event and online

• The Blue Room: will host exciting, informal panel discussions with leaders in art, fashion, music & crypto; including: special sit downs between Micah Johnson and Aku's merch design collaborators Pusha-T, Aleali May and Jerome LaMaar

• The Minting Room: visitors can create their own 4D-scanned avatar that lives within the Aku universe and mint them into NFTs, which they can later trade, sell or display in their digital wallets

• Crypto Wallet: visitors can sign up for their own crypto wallet, collect NFTs and purchase digital artworks by legendary 3D artist, Raf Grassetti and unique Aku digital works

Event Information:  

WHAT: Aku World: Miami

WHO: Micah Johnson in collaboration with FTX US

WHEN: December 2-4, 2021 | 12PM-7PM

WHERE: Wynwood Arts 29, 95 NW 29th St, Miami, FL 33127

TICKETS: https://aku.world/ (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) 

Leading Venture Capital Firms Founders Fund And Atomic Sign 10-Year Leases At Wynwood Annex

Miami’s push to attract the tech industry continues in hyperdrive as leading venture capital firms Founders Fund and Atomic have signed 10-year leases at Wynwood Annex. OpenStore, an e-commerce joint venture between Founders Fund and Atomic, has also signed a 5-year lease for space in Wynwood Annex. The leases total over 22,000 SF and asking rents were $57 PSF at the time of lease. The deal was overseen by Tony Arellano of DWNTWN Realty Advisors, who represented the landlord, and Matthew Goodman, Adam Bernstein and Jeff Gordon of JLL, who represented the lessee’s.

Wynwood Annex is located at 215 NW 24th St. and spans 65,000 SF over 8-stories. The property was completed in 2019 and was developed by Related Group and East End Capital. Wynwood Annex features 60,000 SF of office space and 5,000 SF of ground floor retail space.

Founders Fund is led by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel and was formed in 2005. The firm currently has more than $6 billion in aggregate capital under management and invests across all stages and sectors, including aerospace, artificial intelligence, advanced computing, energy, health, and consumer Internet, with a portfolio that includes Airbnb, Lyft, Spotify, Stripe, and Oscar Health. Founders Fund was the first institutional investor in SpaceX and Palantir Technologies, as well as was an early investor in Facebook.

Atomic is a startup studio and investment fund led by Jack Abraham. The firm was founded in 2012 and has co-founded over 18 companies including Hims, Bungalow, Homebound, Paravision, Raydiant and TalkIQ.

Mana Common Partners With Plug And Play To Bring Global Tech Accelerator To Downtown Miami

MANA Common, led by CEO and visionary entrepreneur Moishe Mana, has announced that it will partner with the global innovation platform, Plug and Play, to establish a presence within Downtown Miami’s Flagler District. Plug and Play, based in Silicon Valley, is the world’s largest global innovation platform and investor.

“Miami has always had the components to make it a global technology hub,” says Moishe Mana. “Now that remote work has allowed tech workers and founders to live nearly anywhere, we’re seeing an acceleration of Miami’s emergence as a leading city for tech.”

The collaboration aims to unite the most promising startups with the world's impactful corporations to drive investment, foster innovation, and secure collaborative partnerships across an array of verticals within the Miami tech ecosystem.

This marks the first Miami office for the tech platform, which besides its headquarters in the Silicon Valley has offices in dozens of cities including Paris, Tokyo, Chicago, São Paulo, and Shanghai.

"We look forward to being a dynamic part of the growing tech community in Miami,” says Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play. “Our partners will bring their knowledge, expertise, and experience to help our startups grow. Connecting these key stakeholders and industry experts will expedite the digital and cultural transformation in a location ripe for explosive growth. We will work hand-in-hand with Mana Tech to find the founding partners to further develop the tech community.”

For Mana Common, the partnership is one of the first steps in executing their vision for the Flagler District as the economic center of Miami. Mana is Miami’s largest private landowner and their current efforts are focused on their dozens of properties surrounding Flagler Street in Miami’s Downtown core.

“This marks a huge milestone and opportunity for the Miami tech scene,” says Michelle Abbs, Managing Director of Mana Tech, one of the six divisions of Mana Common. “We’ve been actively listening and responding to the local tech community, and we’re excited to deliver a solution like this with Plug and Play who has successfully built complete innovation ecosystems multiple times. It’s the connection that the Miami tech and business communities have been lacking, until now.”

The annual program is designed to host two cohorts per year. Mana Common will co-host the first event with Plug and Play in Miami on February 16, 2021 intended to gather interest from the initial founding members that will jointly work in this project. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami Mayor Francis Saurez, and other corporate partners have confirmed their attendance.

Plug and Play’s platform includes an array of innovation protocols and a curated selection of startups, including the Miami tech entrepreneurs, that will help corporations bridge the gap to bring new products and services to market faster. Plug and Play will offer business development opportunities, mentorship, and networking for startups, investors, and corporations. Twice per year, the founding corporations will choose 10 to 15 startups to benefit from these opportunities.

Magic City Tech Boom? Microsoft In Negotiations At 830 Brickell And Elon Musk Wants To Build Tunnels Under Miami

Miami, the magic city, is on track to become the next Silicon Valley as the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has brought people flocking to South Florida. Florida saw the second highest population growth over any other state in 2020, following Texas, adding over 240,000 new residents in a single year. The influx of new residents is being driven by those looking to take advantage of remote-working opportunities or seek a state that has let business remain open and has pro-business tax structure. This has led to Miami and Palm Beach real estate pricing and absorption reaching near record highs.

Not only are the new residents flocking from the high-tax New York, at the same time as South Florida’s population boom, the San Francisco Bay Area has seen an exodus of venture capitalists and tech entrepreneurs. Mayor Francis Suarez has opened up the city to tech entrepreneurs and has expressed interest in bringing innovative companies to the magic city and making Miami a global tech hub. Mayor Suarez recently announced he will be appointing a Chief Technology Officer for the city.

Miami’s office market is being a surge in demand and setting record high pricing. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is one of the major tech firms looking to move to Miami, the multinational software provider is actively in negotiations to lease 30,000 square feet of space at OKO Group’s 830 Brickell, a 56-story office tower adjacent to Brickell City Centre which is currently under construction. Pricing is still relatively cheap compared to other major markets, asking rates at 830 Brickell are reportedly in the $70’s PSF range. Ken Griffin’s Citadel Securities hedge fund is also reportedly looking at office space in 830 Brickell as is the Chicago-based law firm Baker McKenzie.

The biggest news came when Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted that he had talked with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis about building a tunnel system underneath Miami to eliminate traffic and pollution. Mayor Suarez tweed that “we will do it,” and invited Musk to visit him at City Hall. In the past Miami has had success building tunnels at a comparatively low cost. The initiative would be led by Elon Musk’s Boring Company, who is getting ready to reveal the Vegas Loop to the public, a 4,475’ tunnel loop under the Las Vegas Convention Center. In the Las Vegas Loop passengers will reach speeds up to 155 mph and will ride in Tesla Model X’s, Model 3’s, and a 16-passenger modified Model 3. Las Vegas in now working with the Boring Company to build a citywide network of tunnels.

For more information about 830 Brickell, Brickell office space, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

Wellness Real Estate Is On The Rise. Inside Healthy Homes With Cyber-Wellness.

The world’s first home automation system was invented in 1966 by Jim Sutherland. ECHO IV, or Electronic Computing Home Operator, allowed users to control their home’s temperature, store recipes or shopping lists, and power appliances. However, ECHO was never commercially sold. 

It would only be until the 1970s when general-purpose home automation technology would be first introduced to the public. At first, the technology was only simple enough to make appliances and light fixtures in homes run more efficiently. Since then, home automation has evolved into smart-home technology and integrative systems for climate, entertainment, security, and more. One such system is the 2019 DARWIN Home Wellness Intelligence platform, the first of its kind ever.

DARWIN is a network designed to be integrated into the home and target respiratory, cardiovascular, and immune and cognitive health through methods including air purification, water filtration, circadian rhythm lighting, and comfort-focused technologies to simulate the outdoors. According to Delos, the company behind DARWIN, the system uses algorithms and sensor technology to help reduce stress, improve quality of sleep, and increase performance. 

Delos believes that our environment, or our homes, are the places that contribute the most to our health--up to 70%, they claim. 

Consumers are considering their health and the ways in which they can upgrade their homes with new technologies more than ever before, especially while many are self-quarantining due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the more popular and readily available automation devices is the Amazon Echo, which is a smart speaker that allows users to answer questions, play music, and control home devices. Amazon said in January of 2019 that more than 100 million “Alexa” devices had been sold, highlighting the demand that has risen towards these types of systems.

One Miami-based company that has been the catalyst that simplifies complex innovations in personalized solutions is the tech integration company HEDSouth, which has been installing wellness technology in homes and other spaces since 2018.

HEDSouth is now one of the first 50 accredited and approved dealers for DARWIN, and the only Miami installer for it. HEDSouth, which has expanded into Southern California, also carries electronics and luxury brands such as Lutron for lighting and custom motorized shades, Sonos for Music, Sony for premium video entertainment, and Crestron, Savant, and Josh.ai for complete and simple control.

Developers, real estate leaders, and design professionals alike are thinking ahead about the future of at-home wellness technology, with much of South Florida welcoming its first wellness residences. These include private single-family homes and Coral Gables’s Villa Valencia, the first U.S. condominium development to debut DARWIN. Projects by HEDSouth with wellness elements are underway in Boca Raton, Weston, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. 

By Isabella Zimmermann

PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter Reveals Contemporary Art Collection For Art Basel With Flying Car

The art of innovation will be on display during Miami Art Week as PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter has revealed a prototype of the world’s first flying car along with its contemporary art collection at a special preview exhibit to kick off Art Basel. PARAMOUNT, the world’s most amenitized tower known for its innovative flying car Skyport, will host the exhibit entitled: “Miami 2020 and Beyond” featuring the PAL-V (Personal Air Landing Vehicle) Pioneer flying car and an impressive contemporary art collection including “Red World” by renowned artist Steven Manolis, and “Miami Vice” and “Moons Over Miami” by Miami’s hometown museum-class graffiti artist Ahol Sniffs Glue.

The outer-worldly Dutch-made PAL-V Pioneer, already in production and selling for $599,000 with 70 flying cars already sold, is equipped with retractable overhead and rear propellers and tail wings, and can cruise at an altitude as high as 12,500’. Using automobile gasoline instead of jet fuel, it reaches speeds of 200 miles per hour in the air and 100 miles per hour on the ground.

Miami is regarded as the “City of the Future” and PARAMOUNT prides itself on being light years ahead of all other projects in South Florida. Its 58th floor Skydeck is designed so it can be modified in the future as a Skyport with a hydraulic floor capable of transforming its rooftop pool into a take-off and landing pad for flying cars.

The exhibit unveils works in PARAMOUNT’s permanent collection including a painting by Steven Manolis as well as canvases by acclaimed street artist Ahol Sniffs Glue (also known as David Anasagasti). His murals depicting “drowsy eyes” have gained notoriety with a recent showing at the Norton Museum in Palm Beach and Wynwood’s newly debuted Museum of Graffiti. Two canvases, measuring 12 feet x 14 feet and 12 feet by 15 feet, feature his trademark “eyes” in spray paints combining silvers, grays and whites in step with the tones of the PARAMOUNT lobby and the building’s sophisticated urban design. Other works include dreamy, floating sculptures by Tatiana Blanco, paintings by Janos, photographs by Rafael Balcazar, and Gonzalo Fuenmayor, and many other acclaimed artists.

“We are delighted to support, promote and celebrate innovation as well as prominent local and international artists at PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter,” said developer Dan Kodsi. “Miami is the city of the future and an international art world capital. We are pleased to celebrate Miami Art Week by unveiling our Contemporary Collection.”

PARAMOUNT, located inside the massive Miami Worldcenter project in the heart of downtown Miami, is 90% sold with more than $400 million in sales of their 500+ city- and bay-view residences. Tower residences range in size from 1,180 SF to 2,350 SF, with prices starting at $750 per square foot. It has more than 57 nationalities represented among its buyer pool.

The only residential tower currently for sale within the massive 27-acre mixed-use Miami Worldcenter site, PARAMOUNT has made international headlines with its Upper Deck. It is the largest amenity deck in the U.S., spanning four acres, positioned 90’ above downtown Miami. It features an extraordinary array of action-packed luxury amenities that include the country’s first outdoor soccer field to be featured in a high-rise residential development; two tennis courts; multiple resort-style pools; lush parks and spa baths, among others.

FPL To Build Solar Ring In Downtown's Bayfront Park

Miami commissioners have awarded Florida Power & Light a no-bid contract to build a solar ring which consists of solar panels with a retractable Amphitheater roof in Downtown Miami's Bayfront Park. The entire cost of construction will be shouldered by FPL with operation and maintenance costs covered by the public Bayfront Park Management Trust budged at $40,000 annually. FPL will pay the city a $10 annual license fee but the power generated via the solar panels will go to FPL's grid. Completion is expected by 2020. 

“The installation of the [solar ring] will pique the curiosity of the City’s residents and visitors of all ages, encouraging discussion about sustainability and inspiring them to learn more about the benefits of solar energy,” Annie Perez, Procurement Director, City of Miami.

The Future Role of Virtual Reality in Real Estate

When most people think of virtual reality, they imagine a cool gadget synonymous with video games and sci-fi movies. But as virtual reality technology improves and develops, more industries are finding creative ways to incorporate it into their business. Traditionally, real estate has had a slow pace of tech adoption, but the potential of VR is quickly being realized.

Suffolk Construction, the innovative building contractor, has opened a Smart Lab in its downtown Miami office to “identify, test and scale new technologies intended to transform the construction experience and revolutionize the industry.” Just last year, they opened similar labs in Boston, New York City, and San Francisco, which are physical manifestations of Suffolk’s ‘build smart’ approach that enables its teams to leverage new tools and technologies in order to create more value for their clients. 

“The momentum from our ‘build smart’ approach is unmistakable as we redefine what it means to be a builder and, more importantly, provide significant value and a positive project experience for clients, architects and trade partners,” said Chris Mayer, executive vice president and chief innovation officer at Suffolk. 

One of these interactive technologies is a virtual reality CAVE (Computer Aided Virtual Environment) room, which immerses the user in a realistic 3D model of renderings using an HTC Vive headset. The concept allows teams to identify and address logistical challenges before construction begins by ‘stepping inside’ the building. “The basic concept behind the Smart Lab is that we can build it in pixels before we build it in brick and mortar,” said Joe Fernandez, vice president of operations for Suffolk Construction. “We take real-time decisions and put them in a 3D model so the client can immediately see the finished result. 

Only six percent of construction companies currently implement VR technology, according to a survey by Software Connect, but its benefits have already been recognized. Fortune International Realty Group collaborated with Suffolk in building Jade Signature luxury condo tower in Sunny Isles Beach, whose futuristic structure was designed by prize-winning Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. CEO and president of Fortune, Edgardo Defortuna, said “We knew Jade Signature would be an extraordinary undertaking and that a collaboration with Suffolk would be a cornerstone of the project’s development.” During preconstruction in 2016, his sales team shipped virtual reality goggles to prospective Jade buyers. “The result has exceeded every expectation.” 

For virtual reality to take off, it needs competitive pricing and increased computing power in order to run high-end VR simulations. These key variables are present, but the availability of headsets and computers makes distribution of the experience a challenge. As early enthusiasts give way to wider adoption and awareness, VR may become a key technology when it comes to the designing, building, buying and selling of real estate.

Article by Katya Demina

South Miami Becomes First City in Florida to Mandate Solar Panels on New Homes

South Miami has become the first city in Florida to mandate solar panels on new homes, joining 3 cities in California including San Francisco as the only cities in the U.S. to implement the legislation. The mandate also applies to those seeing to increase the square footage of their home by 75% or more. The legislation states that there must be 2.75 kW for every 1,000 SF of roof space.   

“This is about my children and my grandchildren and your children and grandchildren. We are running out of time. It benefits everybody except auto companies and the utilities,” said South Miami Mayor Phillip Stoddard.

The mandate has been met with opposition from residents, developers and city officials alike, as some feel that it is another case of government overreach. Others argue that the new mandates push the cost of living higher, hurting affordable housing and development in the city.

“All over South Miami, houses are being torn down,”said South Miami City Commissioner Josh Liebman. “This is government bureaucracy on the most micro-level. We must protect freedom of choice.”

Stoddard has advocated for implementing renewable energy solutions and reducing carbon emissions to help combat environmental factors such as global warming and rising sea levels. The final vote is on July 18, 2017 and is expected to pass after city commissioners approved the legislation 4-1 in early July 2017. Tesla's sister company, Solarcity, headed by Elon Musk has made major inroads bringing renewable energy to consumers offering solar panels, an integrated "Solar Roof" that is blended into the roof shingles, and a Powerwall that acts as a generator. Images via Solarcity.