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Text by:

A. MAXWELL

Renderings Courtesy of:

RILEA GROUP

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Developed by Rilea Group, this 576,379 square-foot class A office tower marks the realization of phase two of the developer's vision. Sharing a 3-acre parcel with One Broadway, a 371-unit luxury apartment building also developed by the Rilea Group, 1450 Brickell defines the southern edge of a neighborhood where blocks of skyscrapers begin to give way to single family homes.

Though the developer's original plans for this site included mostly residences, plans were changed and an office tower was built. "We conceived and designed 1450 Brickell with two words in mind: ‘quality' and ‘convenience,'" said Alan Ojeda, CEO of Rilea Group. Another key term that could have been added to that statement is ‘green'. Well before any concrete began to cure, 1450 Brickell earned the distinction of being Miami's first LEED Gold pre-certified office tower. Some of the existing and expected green aspects include the recycling of 75% of the project's construction waste, powering 35% of the building's electricity with renewable energy sources via a green power contract, installing pedestrian and cyclist-friendly amenities, allocating preferred parking to fuel-efficient cars, etc.

"The benefits of sustainable development are three-fold. Beyond environmental advantages, ‘green' construction reduces operating costs over the long-term and positively contributes to employee health and productivity, resulting in increased efficiency for building tenants. Given these benefits, 1450 Brickell is ahead of the curve; soon, LEED certification will be the rule, not the exception," announced Ojeda.

A special feature of the building is its curtain wall system. While most new office buildings offer large-missle impact resistant glazing on only the first 30-feet of a building's exterior, the entire 508 feet of 1450 Brickell's facade is clad in large-missle impact resistant glass. When hurricane Katrina passed through Brickell in 2005 it caused significant damage to many of the area's high-rises. This event prompted the development team to retain the help of Enclos Corp., a specialty façade contractor who designed and installed 1450 Brickell's curtain wall system. During lab testing, the new curtain wall withstood wind loads of up to 327 mph, a significant figure considering that Hurricane Katrina's sustained winds were recorded at 80 mph in Miami and Hurricane Andrew was an estimated 155 mph at landfall.

These figures support Enclos Corp's claim that 1450 Brickell has one of the strongest glass façades of any commercial building in the nation. "After enduring one of the most rigorous sets of glass testing ever conducted in the United States, I can say with confidence that 1450 Brickell's curtain wall system will set a new standard for building strength," said Troy Johnson, project executive for Enclos Corp.

Environmental and engineering advancements aside, perhaps the most notable feature of the building is its architectural design. The Miami-based firm of Nichols, Brosch, Wurst, Wolfe & Associates (NBWW) was retained for this job. NBWW has been a presence in Miami since 1967, and their other projects include the Westin Diplomat Resort in Hollywood, Florida, the recently opened hotel/condo tower at the Fontainebleau on Miami Beach, and the soon to be completed Metropolitan complex in downtown Miami.

Bruce Brosch of NBWW explains that the massing of 1450 Brickell was largely inspired by the site. "Miami is a grid city, everything sits on an orthogonal grid. This site is exceptional because it is really the start of The Roads section where the grid of the city shifts about fifteen degrees. We used that as the taking of point for the geometry of the building." 1450 Brickell addresses the importance of the intersection at 15th Road and Brickell Avenue by establishing a corner detail where the building pulls away from the crossroads while the slanted glass façade reflects the activity at street level. Recognizing that the site is only blocks away from Miami's tallest structure, The Four Seasons, and the iconic Espirito Santo Plaza by KPF, NBWW's architects set out to design a building capable of competing with its famous neighbors. They achieved this by creating a striking sculptural mass with projecting glass panels that add movement to the building's two principal sides and draw the eye skyward. The resulting effect is a soaring silhouette that gives 1450 Brickell a signature image that is instantly recognizable.

The contemporary interiors were designed by RTKL and feature 15 and 20 foot high lobbies with white Mount Olympus stone floors, stacked stone accent walls, fused glass, and other surfaces intended to catch and disperse the abundant natural light streaming in from the floor to ceiling windows. Even the common area bathrooms received the same level of detail and attention. "We have been fortunate to execute it in this manner and we are very happy what we ended up with," says Jorge Bernal of RTKL. As tenants prepare to move in, Tere Blanca, President and CEO of Blanca Commercial Real Estate, proudly points out all the positive aspects of the tower including its "efficient floor plates, panoramic views, access to public transportation, and pedestrian-friendly location in Miami's mixed-use Brickell Entrance neighborhood, located far away from the traffic congestion caused by the drawbridges spanning the Miami River." Among the new tenants is Rilea Group, who will be occupying a corner suite on the sky deck level. Other exceptional suites include a penthouse with an outdoor terrace and 360 degree views of the city and Biscayne Bay.

Though 1450 Brickell is not the only new office tower in this area, its design, location, and iconic presence have already made it a desirable business address, as well as a new Miami landmark.

For more information about 1450 Brickell visit: www.1450brickell.com.