The iconic Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami was demolished this Sunday in twenty seconds after 25 years of operation in the exclusive Brickell neighborhood. The 23-story building was the site of the largest controlled implosion in the city in the last ten years.
In its place, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental development plans to build two separate towers—one 66 stories and the other 34—with units already being marketed for prices reaching US$100 million.
“Unlike a conventional demolition, in this implosion everything happens within a limited timeframe. Therefore, what would otherwise be an event taking a much longer and more extended period is concentrated into a single, fixed moment in time,” BG Group Managing Partner Ivy Fradin had anticipated.
The new complex, which will occupy a total area of 20,000 square meters, will dedicate almost half of its space exclusively to common areas and elite services. These include meditation gardens, golf simulators, 11 swimming pools, and a wellness center specializing in holistic treatments.
The project also includes two gourmet restaurants and an exclusive private wine cellar, solidifying the offering as an ecosystem of comfort in the heart of Florida’s financial district.
According to the developers, 50% of the units in the south tower have already been sold. The residences, starting at US$4.9 million, represent one of the most aggressive ventures by Swire Properties, the firm leading the project.
The Mandarin Oriental brand will be leaving its prime location. The plan includes the construction of a new flagship property for North America, with 121 rooms that will coexist with the 298 private residences of the complex.
In this way, the land that once hosted celebrities such as Will Smith, Penelope Cruz and the stars of Real Madrid, is preparing for a transformation that, according to specialists, will finish consolidating the physiognomy with an unprecedented architectural profile.
