Douglas Elliman Celebrates The Grand Opening Of Its First Coral Gables Office Location

Douglas Elliman has celebrated the grand opening of its first office in Coral Gables hosted by Jay Phillip Parker, CEO of Douglas Elliman Florida brokerage, Gus Rubio, COO of Douglas Elliman Florida brokerage and Maggie Buck, Managing Broker of Douglas Elliman’s Coral Gables office. Guests gathered at the new office located at 1515 Sunset Drive to celebrate the ribbon cutting ceremony led by Mark A. Trowbridge, President and CEO of Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, alongside Elliman Florida executives, Jay Phillip Parker, CEO Gus Rubio, COO Maggie Buck, Managing Broker of Coral Gables and Nury Enamorado, Director of Facilities and Admins. Trowbridge closed out the evening by presenting the management team of Douglas Elliman a certified Proclamation on behalf of The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.

Designed by Leo A. Daly, the Coral Gables office is comprised of 4,040 SF, and houses approximately 75 agents. The office features terrazzo flooring and bright art work of the city’s most recognizable buildings to accentuate the Coral Gables aesthetic of a historical yet modernized neighborhood.

Photos via Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Check Out The Newly Revealed Renderings Of The RTKL-Designed Plaza Coral Gables

New renderings have been revealed of Plaza Coral Gables, the largest project to ever be built in Coral Gables, valued at over $600 million. Construction on the project, which was formerly proposed as Mediterranean Village by developer Ralph Sanchez, is currently underway after Phase 1 broke ground in Summer 2018. The Plaza Coral Gables is now being developed by Agave Ponce, LLC., an affiliate of the Cuervo Tequila Company. The Plaza Coral Gables, which was designed by RTKL, will offer over 2.1 million SF of total development spread over roughly 7 acres. When complete the project will offer 174 luxury rental apartments, 242 hotel rooms, 161,000 SF of retail, 447,000 SF of office space spread over 2 towers and 2,400 parking spaces. A completion date for Phase 1 is expected in 2020 before the developer will break ground on Phase 2 and Phase 3.

Douglas Elliman Continues South Florida Expansion With Announcement Of First Coral Gables Office

Douglas Elliman, the third largest residential real estate company nationwide, has continued their expansion across South Florida with the opening of its first Coral Gables office location. The 4,040 SF office will be located on the first floor at Facundo Bacardi’s 1515 Sunset Drive, designed by Leo A. Daly, and will house approximately 75 agents and will be led by Managing Broker Maggie Buck. With the addition of Coral Gables, Douglas Elliman now has 20 offices across Florida, including Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Miami Beach, Palm Beach, Aventura, Bay Harbor Island, Jupiter, Wellington and Delray Beach.

“Coral Gables is a strong market for luxury buyers and with our existing foothold in the area, we always believed this particular region was a critical market to tap into as we continue our expansion across Florida,” said Jay Phillip Parker, Chief Executive Officer of Douglas Elliman’s Florida brokerage. “As purveyors of luxury real estate, Douglas Elliman caters to the interest of our global clientele and with Coral Gables being an international destination for real estate buyers we look forward to offering our world-class services in one of South Florida’s most coveted neighborhood.”

The new Coral Gables location has been designed with the same charming character and architectural design seen throughout “The City Beautiful” including terrazzo flooring accentuating the Coral Gables aesthetic of a historical yet modernized neighborhood. The new office setting offers an array of private offices and two conference rooms featuring dHive glass, known for creating professional private environments that offer seamless accessibility to open work spaces where professionals can collaborate in a communal setting.

In June of 2018, Douglas Elliman made a significant mark on Coral Gables when the firm closed on the $19 million sale of Hilda Bacardi’s estate, Casa Costanera, which marked the highest price ever paid for a single-family home in the exclusive gated community Cocoplum. The listing was represented by Hilda Jacobson of Douglas Elliman’s Sports & Entertainment Division, who will now join the Coral Gables office.

Maggie Buck, who previously served as Douglas Elliman’s Managing Broker for the firm’s Miami Beach offices, will now oversee daily operations in Coral Gables. Buck is deeply connected to the South Florida community and active in her industry, brining more than 25 years of luxury real estate experience to her new role in addition to a strong expertise in the local Coral Gables market.

“The Coral Gables community is known to attract buyers from around the world looking for the South Florida lifestyle with direct access to waterways and celebrated architecture,” said Maggie Buck, Managing Broker of Douglas Elliman’s Coral Gables office. “As our brand continues to grow in South Florida, I am thrilled to return to the community of Coral Gables, I look forward to growing our newest office and implementing my expertise in the area to build a team of strong real estate professionals.”

Perkins+Will's Opens New Miami Studio Showcasing Award-Winning Design In Coral Gables

The Miami office of global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will has announced the completion of its new Coral Gables studio, showcasing some of the firm’s best-in-class workplace design strategies, including sustainability, biophilia, health and wellness, and integrated technology. Perkins+Will is the creative visionary behind such award-winning projects as the L’Oréal Research & Innovation Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Miami Dade College Academic Support Center, and Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University in Saudi Arabia. The new 13,700 SF studio is located at 2800 Ponce De Leon Blvd. in Coral Gables. Designed by Elina Cardet, interior design director of Perkins+Will’s Miami studio, along with her team, the light-filled, open-floor space allows for collaboration among designers of multiple disciplines, while supporting their sense of well-being. The project is targeting LEED v4 Gold Certification and 2 FitWel Stars.

“We reimagined our workplace as a single, integrated creative studio—one that promotes connectivity, encourages creativity, and strengthens our sense of community,” Cardet says. “Our diverse team of designers thrives when they can work together, exchange ideas, test new concepts, and share feedback, so designing a workplace that supports interactivity was a top priority.”

Lawrence Kline, managing director of Perkins+Will’s Miami office, says the new studio is a “living laboratory” that reflects best practices in workplace design while also improving productivity and creative outcomes. “Our new space allows us to innovate, explore, and discover. It inspires and motivates us. All of this ultimately leads to better designs for our clients.”

The studio is designed to highlight the firm’s ability to create spaces that promote health and well-being is the “Studio in a Garden” concept. Wellness is promoted via a tangible and immediate connection to nature, including air-cleaning plants that will grow to create an indoor garden, framing the uninterrupted 360-degree views to city, ocean and sky, allowing for a more stimulating work environment. Active design strategies include sit-to-stand desks and premium ergonomic seating for everyone. Within-office amenities include a wellness room with sink and daybed, a lactation room for nursing mothers and new shower to encourage the team to bike, skate, or walk to work. Throughout the space, the multi-generational team’s needs, such as individual mobility and different work styles, are supported by full wireless connectivity, and movable, reconfigurable furniture.

“Our new workspace exhibits all the transformational and future-ready design attitudes we bring to all our clients and project,” explains Pat Bosch, design director of the Miami office. “We thrive in being able to showcase and share with our clients and our community our vision of a thoughtful, humanistic approach and our attention to high performance. This technique is paramount in our design culture. Our office is an environment that fosters creativity, leadership and ingenuity as well as creates an incubator for leading design that is unique to our city and region.”

“Our own office culture is now supported by a wide-range of choices for collaboration areas, including a relaxed, fun, multipurpose lounge where our famous, daily “cafecito time,” Friday breakfasts, happy hours, our ping pong tournaments and annual holiday feasts take place. With these welcoming places to meet, we will be hosting A&D community leadership events, sponsoring thought-proving panels, symposia and cross-industry multi-disiplinary events,” says Cardet.

Nearly every aspect of the new office is technologically advanced, including acoustically balanced conference rooms and waiting areas. Centrally located within the “Idea Hub” and completely transparent, the “Maker Space,” or model room, will showcase two 3D printers, laser cutter for digitally printed models and prototypes as well as models crafted by hand. Perkins+Will has incorporated Virtual Reality (VR) as part of the design process. The new studio features two spacious VR lounge areas with double display screens, with flexible and re-configurable, modular soft seating, where designers and clients can immerse themselves in a 3D digital environment at the early stages of projects. “I think VR was seen first as a fun technology gadget, but we recognize that it is a powerful tool in our industry, so we wanted to dedicate space and create a showcase for it,” says Kline.

“As a creative lab where our clients are part of the design process, our studio is future-ready with two virtual reality lounge areas, where our digital practice continues to evolve,” says Cardet.

Adler Group & 13th Floor Investments Propose Link at Douglas At Douglas Road Metrorail Station

Adler Group and 13th Floor Investments have submitted plans for Link at Douglas to Miami-Dade County, representing the first step of their multi-phase plan bring a mixed-use development to the Douglas Metrorail Station. The proposal includes a 40-story tower with 11-story parking garage and 406 residential units along with 60K SF of retail. The tower will rise 450' and is being designed by Arquitectonica. Construction is expected to begin Q1 2019.

Check Out This Jeff Howard-Designed Italian Renaissance Penthouse in Coral Gables Asking $6.99 Million

The 3-story mega-penthouse in Coral Gables' Segovia Tower has relisted for $6.99 million. The residence was listed last year $10.5 million, at $1,236 SF, but did not sell. The Mediterranean-inspired, 8,492 SF unit includes 8 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and 5 parking spaces. The intricately designed Italian Renaissance residence was designed by Jeff Howard of Howard Design Group. The penthouse also features a library, billiards room, media room, wine cellar, private elevator, summer kitchen, 2 indoor kitchens, private gym and a solid stone 30' fireplace. Outside features multiple private terraces and a summer kitchen complete with extraordinary views of the Coral Gables, Downtown Miami, and Coconut Grove. Other finishes include various stained glass windows, crystal chandeliers, and hand-painted murals throughout. The penthouse is currently owned by attorney James L. Ferraro. 600 Coral Way PH 15 is currently listed for $6.99 million with Maggie Munoz of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty.

Check out PROFILEmiami's previous coverage of Segovia Tower's PH 15

Bacardi Heiress' Uber-Luxe, Super Private Cocoplum Estate Casa Costanera Sells For $19 Million

Casa Costanera, formerly owned by Bacardi heiress, Hilda Bacardi, has sold for $19 million. Bacardi was represented by Barbara Estela & Hilda Jacobson of Douglas Elliman’s Sports & Entertainment Division. The sale marks the highest price ever paid for a single-family home in Cocoplum. The property was first listed for $27.26 million after being completed in May 2016 before dropping the price in October 2017 to $24,999,999. Hilda Bacardi is great great granddaughter of Bacardi founder Facundo Bacardí Massó.

Casa Costanera is located in the exclusive Cocoplum gated community at 300 Costanera Road. The 21,546 SF mega-mansion sits on 1.3 beautifully landscaped acres with over 480' of water frontage. The Italian villa offers 13 bedroom with 12 full-bathrooms and 2 half-baths, 3 kitchens, a commercial elevator and finished with finest craftsmanship, and designer interior finishes. Outside the estate features beautifully landscaped grounds that house separate staff or guest quarters and an outdoor entertainment area with pool and 100-foot concrete dock with direct access to Biscayne Bay via the Coral Gables Waterway.

MG Developer Breaks Ground On Villa Blanc, Designed by Z.W. Jarosz Architect, In Coral Gables

 MG Developer continues to develop The City Beautiful, recently celebrating the groundbreaking of Villa Blanc, the firm’s latest project located on 311 Santander Avenue. At the evening celebration, guests enjoyed remarks by CEO Alirio Torrealba and Coral Gables Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli championing another highly anticipated development offering style and originality. The celebrations culminated at the Ninoska Huerta Pop Up Gallery at 290 Aragon Avenue, presented by MG Developer, providing a look into one of Villa Blanc’s nearby amenities with modern artwork from internationally renowned artists.

“We’re excited to be adding to our collection of luxury villas and homes that all have their own distinctive character in Coral Gables, South Florida’s true international city that offers its residents rich traditions, history and a vibrant culture that they can enjoy in their own backyard,” said Torrealba. “Villa Blanc is our latest contribution to the city’s storied heritage, as we continue developing the future of Coral Gables by building beautiful.”

Villa Blanc was designed by Z.W. Jarosz Architect and fuses contemporary with European notes of high-end luxury. The project brings refined French-style villas with an ideal location that trolleys between Miracle Mile and the Shops at Merrick Park, Villa Blanc introduces a lavish level of design and world-class sophistication. The project offers 4 upscale 3-bedroom villas with private studies. Pricing starts at $1.49 million with sales and marketing being exclusively overseen by Fortune International Realty. 

Coastal Construction Co-President Sean Murphy Sells Contemporary Hammock Lake Drive Estate in Coral Gables For $7.43 Million

Sean Murphy, Co-President of Coastal Construction’s, has sold his home at 5490 Hammock Lake Drive home in Coral Gables, which was purchased by Chicago based family for $7.43 million. The price, which equates to over $1,000 SF, sets a new record in the Hammock Lake neighborhood after the previous high sale was $7.25 million. Murphy, was represented by Hilda Jacobson, Barbara Estela & Brett Harris of Douglas Elliman’s Sports & Entertainment Division; the original list price was $8.99 million. 

Sean Murphy's Coast Construction has been an integral part of building Miami’s skyline, working on buildings such as Faena House and Hotel, the Four Seasons’ Surf Club Resort and Residences, the Miami Beach Edition, SLS Hotel South Beach, St. Regis Bal Harbour, Fendi Château Residences, Miami Design District, the forthcoming Miami World Center.

This Mid-Century Modern estate was influenced by Richard Neutra and features 7 bedrooms and 7 full baths and 1 half-bath. When sold the home featured designer finishes and interiors by Jeffrey Lamb including marble floors, on-point furnishings, wood floors as well as a Crestron smart house system. An space efficient layout takes advantage of the home 7,274 SF with a large living room with fireplace, dining room with wet bar, gourmet kitchen, and ground floor master suite. Outside, a tranquil tile line pond runs alongside the master bedroom leading perfectly manicured grounds all spread over 1 acre hidden behind oak trees with a gated entry. The pool and deck complete with a cabana with summer kitchen provide the perfect place to entertain.

Photos via Douglas Elliman

Check Out This $55 Million Waterfront Estate Which Just Hit The Market In Coral Gables' Exclusive Gables Estates

There is a new highest priced listing in Coral Gables nestled on a waterfront lagoon at 8901 Arvida Lane. The luxurious estate was designed by local architect Rafael Portuondo with a neoclassical design which radiates elegance and features bright open spaces, high ceilings and dramatic interiors.

The estate features 6 bedrooms, 9 full bathrooms and 3 half baths, along with a grand entry foyer, fully-equipped theatre, a billiard room, chef's kitchen, formal dining room, two study’s and a full bar. The outside terrace displays a mosaic-tiled heated pool, a gym, sun deck and a Summer Kitchen perfect for entertaining. The estate sits on 2.38 waterfront acres with abundant, lush tropical landscaping. The estates grounds also include a fully functional guest home and a dock that can accommodate up to a yacht up to 90'.

8901 Arvida Lane, Coral Gables is currently listed for $55 million with Dennis Carvajal of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty.