NP International Secures $158.4 Million In Construction Financing & Gears Up To Break Ground on Gables Station

NP International has locked down a $158.4 million construction loan and are gearing up to break ground on Gables Station, a transit-oriented mixed-use project with 120,000 SF of retail space, 500 residential units and 66 hotel units. Developer Brent Reynolds plans to break ground before the end of Q1 2018. The financing was provided by Bank of the Ozarks and comes on the heels of Life Time Fitness signing a lease for 90K SF of retail space at Gables Station. NP International will also provide funding to develop a portion of the proposed Underline Park. NP International acquired the land adjacent to Merrick Park and Miami's Metrorail in Coral Gables at 251 South Dixie Highway in 2016 for $60 million. Construction is expected to be completed by Q3 2020. 

Jade Signature Continues To Power Towards Completion, Reveals Permanent Snowman Installation "Bonhomme Universe"

Just days after the installation of a massive 65,000-pound, 38-year-old kapok tree at the base of Jade Signature in Sunny Isles Beach, the tower and Fortune International Group celebrated the unveiling of “Bonhomme Universe,” their new gemstone snowman, a whimsical piece is by Romania-born artist Daniel Knorr which was commissioned by Fortune International Group President and CEO Edgardo Defortuna. The sculpture will be accessible to the public, a potential future social media icon for Sunny Isles Beach. The unveiling was celebrated with a fashionable beachfront luncheon, guests included Edgardo Defortuna, and his wife, Ana Cristina; the artist himself Daniel Knorr, co-host Sarah Harreslon, founder of CULTURED magazine; Jason Frantzen, partner of Herzog and de Meuron; Raymond Jungles, founder of Raymond Jungles Inc.; Vice Mayor Dana Goldman of the City of Sunny Isles Beach; and former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios. Defortuna spoke about his passion for art and the ability of sculpture to enliven and embellish outdoor spaces (December 8, 2017).

“We are thrilled to be able to share this unique sculpture with the world – one that celebrates Miami’s diversity, its beauty, soul, and welcoming atmosphere,” said Defortuna.

Daniel Knorr added, "This fantastic building that challenges architectural standards, like three stories of parking under the beach, inspired me to the idea of the snowman and his impossibility to melt under the strong Miami sun. Like the house that hosts inhabitants of 25 countries, the snowman is decorated with gemstones coming from various places in the world. It shows the good soul of mankind and its close connection to nature."

Knorr first began creating these sculptures when he became fascinated by the conceptual possibility of a snowman existing without snow. In Bonhomme Universe, he re-locates this cold-climate object to a sub-tropical environment, releasing it from the material it was once reliant on. Bonhomme Universe stands 10.5' tall and 5.57' wide at the base. The "snowman" crafted around a metal grid of stainless steel, topped with concrete which is adorned with 28 different types of precious and semi-precious stones that have been polished and treated for durability, including green quartz, red jasper and moonstone. The vibrant gemstones chosen are inspired by the colors of the Miami landscape yet sourced from around the world. These natural materials reflect the diverse mesh of buyers at Jade Signature, a testament to Miami’s unique cultural identity. Instead of the typical broom for an arm, this snowman has a palm tree, fashioned from stainless steel. This extended arm serves as a friendly wave to passersby, but also has the deeper visual reference, with the palm tree an ancient symbol of peace, victory, and eternal life that originated in Near East and Mediterranean culture. 

Jade Signature is located at 16901 Collins Ave. and was designed by Herzog & de Meuron, interiors by Parisian interior design firm PYR, led by Pierre-Yves Rochon, and landscape architecture by Raymond Jungles. The tower feature 192 flow-through units with pricing ranging from $3.9 million and 1,581 SF for a 1 bedroom + den with 2 baths to $33 million for a 5 bedroom, 6,407 SF penthouse. Jade Signature will also features lush, landscaped grounds with beach access, a beach grill, resort style amenities including a lagoon style pool, fitness center and spa, wine cellar, library, teens lounge, 24 hour concierge and valet along with more five-star amenities that buyers demand in such a high-end, luxury building. Jade Signature features views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Intracoastal Waterway. Check-out PROFILEmiami's coverage of Fortune International Group reporting over $51 Million in sales in Q1 2017 at Jade Signature in Sunny Isles Beach. 

The Aranguren + Gallegos Arquitectos-Designed Institute of Contemporary Art Miami Opens In Miami Design District

Miami's brand new Institute of Contemporary Art has officially opened its doors in the Miami Design District right in time for Art Basel. The metal-faced building was designed by Madrid-based architectural firm Aranguren + Gallegos Arquitectos, their first project in the United States. To create the facade the architects used geometric metal panels to create a "magnetic" appeal to attract visitors along with a cove lighting system to illuminate the metal-clad face at night. Each gallery features double-height ceilings and overlook the sculpture garden via floor-to-ceiling glass. The sculpture garden will also be used to host events and talks. The back of the museum features a sculpture garden. The museum has a free-admission policy. ICA Miami previously operated from the historic Moore Building, also located in Miami Design District which is being developed by Craig Robins as a neighborhood that fuses high-end luxury shopping with art, culture and eduction. ICA Miami sits on land donated by Robins adjacent to the De La Cruz Collection on NE 41st Street. Norman Braman, the iconic Miami car dealer, and his wife Irma, who chairs the board of trustees at ICA Miami, provided the funds to cover most of the cost of the museum. The museum will first feature over 100 works by more than 50 artists with a show called "The Everywhere Studio." The institute joins a group of privately-owned museums in Miami including the Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, the Rubell Family Collection, the Cisneros Fontanels Art Foundation and the adjacent De La Cruz Collection. 

Photography is by Iwan Baan.

Miami Beach Commissioners Vote to Approve Redesign of Convention Center Park

Miami Beach Commissioners voted to approve a redesign of Convention Center Park by reallocating the tree-count and landscaping to boost the usable lawn space in the 5.8-acre park to 87,000 SF, up from 28,000 SF. The changes were to accommodate Design Miami, a 5 day furniture show founded by Dacra founder Craig Robins. The Miami Beach Design Review Board will review the changes in November.    

Skyrise Releases New Renderings, Nears Completion of Wind-Tunnel Tests

Skyrise has completed their wind-tunnel testing and have released new renderings of the project as they near the potential groundbreaking. The new renderings show greater detail of the proposed attractions including bungee jumping and a stunning observation deck. The entertainment and observation tower is being designed by Arquitectonica and under development by Berkowitz Development Group. 

Frost Museum of Science to Take Over Operations at Museum Park's Science Barge

The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science will take over operations of Museum Park's floating Science Barge when they open on May 8. The barge will undergo extensive renovation throughout the summer as it will be transformed into an environmental lab where it will supplement the museum's Aquarium and science exhibits with the surrounding marine life. The 120 foot Miami Science Barge opened in 2016 after it won the 2015 Knight Cities Challenge. It was designed by Nathalie Manzano and Dr. Ted Caplow and cost $1.2 million. 

Patricia & Phillip Frost Museum of Science to Finally Open May 8

The years of waiting and watching are beginning to come to end at Miami's Museum Park as the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science has finally announced an opening date of May 8. The museum will be the second museum delivered following the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) which has been received by the public as a major hit and help complete the cultural and art initiatives in Miami's Arts and Entertainment district which also includes the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and YoungArts.

The Frost Museum of Science has been a 5 year project, began construction in 2012 and has overcome many obstacles and roadblocks along the way including a $350 million price tag. Phillip and Patricia Frost had to help cover the rest of the cost of the construction after fundraising efforts failed to raise the necessary funds, missing the expected 2016 completion date. The Frost Museum of Science was designed by Grimshaw Architects, sits on 4 acres and features 4 different buildings in one, divided based on their field of study. There will be a planetarium, aquarium and feature 2 exhibit wings spread over 250,000 SF. The planetarium is 1-of-8 in the world featuring 8K resolution in 3D along with seating for 250 people. The museum claims on its website that it will take guests on a "journey from the ocean to the Everglades, from the human cell to outer space, investigating life as we know it." The building is working toward LEED Gold certification as part of their initiative to create a better planet. Tickets for the May 8 opening day are available on the museum's website.

Mixed-Use Wynwood Park to Bring Open Park Space & Retail to Wywnood

Developer Metro 1 is bringing Wynwood Park, a much needed new mixed-use development with a focus on green space to Wynwood. Wynwood Park will feature an acre of open green public park space adjacent to Wynwood Walls. The development will also include an adaptive retail concept. It was designed by MKDA Architecture and was introduced at CIASF's 2017 Wynwood Market Report Presentation event. Leasing has already begun. Wynwood Park will be located at NE 2nd Avenue and 26th to 27th Streets. Wynwood has boomed in recent years, first getting its boost from the unique street art that developed into a full art scene. The neighborhood has seen rising prices as it has attracted a number of restaurants, galleries, shops and nightlife to create a vibrant scene in a once industrial setting. 

Construction Has Begun at Omni Park in Downtown Miami

Construction has begun at the 7 acre site in Omni that will soon be the Omni Park. Although temporary, the park will remain for 2 years to provide food and beverage vendors, amphitheater, skate park and art walk amongst the green urban escape. The site is owned by FDOT and will be part of the Signature Bridge Project which is under bidding. What remains of the Omni Park at that point will be reconstructed under and around the Signature Bridge to keep the green space in the area which has been the subject to massive urbanization with Miami WorldCenter construction now in full swing. The OMNI CRA has provided $300,000 in funding for th park and the Perez Art Museum has provided $150,000 while Brad Knoefler is overseeing construction which is scheduled for late February 2017.

Read our original news break on Omni Park from its December Announcement. 

Biscayne Green Initiative Coming to Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown

The Miami Downtown Development Authority has taken the first steps to getting cars off the roads and make life in Downtown Miami more pedestrian friendly. They have launched a month-long installation as part of the Biscayne Green initiative to redesign the medians and parking lots on Biscayne Boulevard between SE 1st Street and NE 6th St. The installation will remain through January 26 and is funded by the Knight Foundation and The Miami Foundation. A long-term proposal includes eliminating 2 lanes in each direction in order to build more landscaped pedestrian and biking paths. The city would aim to relocate the street parking and the city is currently performing a "Lane Elimination Analysis." 
“Downtown Miami has experienced a nearly 150 percent increase in population over the past 15 years, with the majority of these new residents falling between the ages of 20 and 44. This young demographic overwhelmingly favors public transit over traffic, connectivity and public space over sprawl, and community experiences over material accumulation.” - Alyce Robertson, Miami DDA Executive Director

Events for the Biscayne Green Temporary Installation Through January 26:

• Biscayne Green Grand Opening Get-Down (January 6 from 7 – 10 p.m) - Celebrate the grand opening of Biscayne Green with handcrafted cocktails, live music and art.
• Biscayne Screen with O Cinema (January 8, 15, and 22 from 6 – 10 p.m) - Watch movies cuddled up on the Green with free blankets, popcorn and empanadas.
• Out of Office – Coffee + Wifi (January 11, 18, 25 from 9 – 11 a.m) - Enjoy the fresh air and fuel up for the day with coffee and snacks.
• Baila on Biscayne (January 12, 19 from 7 – 10 p.m) - Enjoy al fresco music, dancing and people watching.
• Taste of Downtown (January 14 from 6 – 10 p.m.) - Enjoy a taste of downtown with specialties from some of the area’s hottest culinary masters.
• Brunch on the Green (January 15, 22 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.) - Sip on mimosas and nibble on brunch offerings from local foodie hotspots.