Swire Properties Inc., one of South Florida’s leading international developers of real estate, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially welcome Florida’s largest law firm, Akerman LLP, as the lead office tenant at Three Brickell City Centre.
The celebration marks the opening of the first office tenant in the massive $1.05 billion Brickell City Centre, the mixed-use development nearing completion in the heart of Miami’s Brickell district.
Miami city leaders, along with the senior teams from Akerman and Swire Properties, gathered on Mar. 1 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the entrance of Three Brickell City Centre, one of Brickell City Centre’s two Class-A office towers, to celebrate the launch and completion of the first component in the 5.4 million-square-foot mixed-use development, which also includes a shopping center, two luxury condominium towers and a hotel. This is the first new office tower in Brickell in five years.
“Brickell City Centre is a part of Miami history,” Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado said during a speech at the event. “It is an extraordinary development that has given us a tool to market Miami to the world. Brickell City Centre is a symbol that Miami has come back.”
Other notable attendees included: Stephen Owens, president of Swire Properties Inc.; Andrew M. Smulian, chair and CEO of Akerman; Alberto Parjus, assistant city manager, City of Miami; Luciana Gonzalez, assistant director, Planning & Zoning, City of Miami; Ed Santamaria, director, Public Works, City of Miami; Juvenal Santana, deputy director, Public Works, City of Miami; Eloy Garcia, Chief, assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal, City of Miami, and Vanessa Acosta, director, NET, City of Miami.
“Brickell City Centre is no longer an aspiration but a reality,” said Stephen Owens, president of Swire Properites Inc., “Today’s ceremony is a testament to the vision, hard work and dedication of Swire Properties and 11 Miami agencies coming together; it is a true private and public partnership.”
Akerman is the largest law firm in Florida and the biggest lead office tenant committed to the project, taking up 110,500 square feet, or 80 percent, of the tower’s Class-A office space. Akerman received its temporary certificate of occupancy in January and moved into Three Brickell City Centre during the weekends of Feb. 12 and 19.
Akerman’s office introduces a new concept to the Miami legal market by incorporating intentional design elements, including a conference center that accommodates up to 300 people, a café, common areas and war rooms. Akerman’s name will be displayed on the building’s rooftop.
Andrew Smulian, chair and CEO of Akerman, said, “There is real value in having our law firm surrounded by the Climate Ribbon, one of the most stunning and innovative pieces of environmental architecture in North America. It reminds us what is possible when you dare to design new solutions to old problems.”
Designed by award-winning architectural firm Arquitectonica, the 12-story all-glass tower is the only office building in the Brickell area with a Metromover attached to its structure. It is also LEED gold pre-certified. The second office tower, Two Brickell City Centre, is expected to open later this year.
In addition to the two office towers, Brickell City Centre also comprises the first EAST hotel outside of Asia by Swire Hotels, a three-floor 500,000 square-foot premium shopping complex anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, and two condominium towers, REACH and RISE, all of which are set to debut this year.
As the largest private-sector project currently under construction in Miami, Brickell City Centre began vertical construction in 2013 and the first phase of construction began completion at the end of 2015. Phase II is scheduled for commencement in late 2017. More information is available at www.brickellcitycentre.com.
