Florida, the signature of Major Brands on Miami City’s Skyline

A hub for fashion, art, architecture, and economic growth, Florida is currently in the global spotlight, partly thanks to President-elect Donald Trump, who has turned his Mar-a-Lago estate into the headquarters for assembling his new government.

In the Sunshine State, even demographic growth seems unstoppable (23 million residents), with an influx of 1,000 new Floridians daily. Alongside this growth, new construction projects are thriving, particularly in the counties of Miami, Tampa, and Orlando, which have announced significant investment plans to improve mobility in high-traffic-density areas. Major construction companies, such as Lane Construction (Webuild Group), are already at work on strategic road interchanges, highways, bridges, and overpasses, stretching from Lakeland to Tampa, and Lake County to Seminole County.

Miami stands as the undeniable star of the moment, further energized by the return of international events that had been strained in recent years by the COVID pandemic. For example, the Miami Art Week (2024 edition held from December 2 to 8) saw entire neighborhoods revitalized, streets and homes turned into canvases for street artists, and galleries, museums, and art fairs spreading across Greater Miami & Miami Beach. This artistic ripple has even reached Downtown and Brickell, the city’s financial hub, adorned with a hundred luxury skyscrapers.

In Miami, mega-buildings and luxury are becoming increasingly intertwined. This is evident in the parade of skyscrapers, including those under design or construction, branded by names like Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Porsche, Aston Martin, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Cipriani, and Waldorf Astoria, blending luxury with innovation and unique design.

Among the many new buildings under construction, the most anticipated is the Waldorf Astoria skyscraper owned by the Hilton Group. Designed by visionary conceptual artist Carlos Ott, it features a design resembling nine massive glass cubes stacked and offset, seemingly defying gravity while reaching a height of 305 meters. This structure will break the current record held by the 265-meter Panorama Tower, the tallest building in the region since 2017.

In Miami, the “race to the top” is a contagious passion among luxury brands, well aware of the growth potential of real estate and the promotional value of associating their name with the city’s architectural marvels.

For lovers of ultra-luxury and supercars, Sunny Isles Beach will soon host the Bentley Residences tower by the luxury carmaker. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the 61-floor building will house 216 apartments and feature a special elevator to transport vehicles directly to residents’ units.

Mercedes-Benz has also invested in luxury real estate in Miami with its Mercedes-Benz Places tower. This 67-floor building will include 791 residences, combining elegance and cutting-edge technology synonymous with the German automotive giant.

The Dolce & Gabbana Tower, located at 888 Brickell Avenue, will be the Italian fashion house’s first residential skyscraper. Its design draws inspiration from the brand’s signature style, incorporating architectural elements reminiscent of Ancient Rome. The goal: to reach 320 meters, surpassing the record set by the Waldorf Astoria.

Competition for the Dolce & Gabbana Tower comes from Brickell, where international hedge fund Citadel plans to make its mark among the global banks and financial institutions with a 315-meter, 54-floor tower at 1201 Brickell Bay Drive. Designed by Foster + Partners, the building will feature offices and a hotel, providing a rooftop vantage point to conduct business while admiring the beauty of Miami Bay.