The Miami Innovation District will produce a flourishing, global and connected live/work/play environment for innovation and entrepreneurship that will enhance Greater Downtown Miami, generate economic growth and put Miami on the “tech map.” Overall, the Miami Innovation District will contribute to the urban renewal of Greater Downtown Miami by bringing in start-up companies, middle-market corporations and international corporations in an innovative mixed-use mega-project surrounded by beautiful streetscapes, public plazas, interior walkways, public spaces for workplace and social gatherings, exercising and community events. The mega project will create a home for the tech movement and entrepreneurship in Miami and will compliment all of the new development in the downtown area that include mainly high-end retail and residential developments.
Overview of the Miami Innovation District
The Miami Innovation District will include 3,850,000 square feet of office space, 2,400,000 square feet of residential and micro-units which will be economy apartments under 300 square feet that will cater to millenials and business people. The mother ship of the new district will be the Miami Innovation Tower. This 663-foot tower will boast 21,000 square feet of retail space, ticketing and studios, a 23,000-square-foot roof garden and amphitheater, variety of restaurants and an observation deck. The tower is planned to have a programmable “active skin” on which advertisements can be displayed. Developers of the Miami Innovation District is Innovate Development Group, which is principled by Michael Simkins and Ron Simkins.
Where
The Miami Innovation District was strategically placed in the Park West neighborhood of Miami located near the newly improved mass transit system, expressways and mega projects such as Miami Worldcenter and SkyRise Miami, in Downtown Miami. The Miami Innovation District will span about 7 million square feet across 10.4 acres. The district will be generally bound by Northwest 12th Street and the I-395 right-of-way to the north, Northeast 1st Avenue to the east, Northwest 1st Avenue to the west and Northwest-Northeast 10th Street to the south. The main roadways within the district will be Northwest-Northeast 11th Street and North Miami Avenue, where that intersection will be an important center of public space.
Miami Innovation Tower
The tower, which will act as the focal point of the Miami Innovation District, is planned to have a fully-integrated active “skin,” which will be a global first, to show the world Miami’s home in the high-tech world.
According to the Miami Herald, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said “I love the innovation center aspect of it, but I’m not so crazy about the 600-foot billboard.” The “billboard” that the Miami-Dade mayor is referring to is the actual observation tower that will be a twisting, 3-sided observation tower with large digital signs that will display advertisements and act as the tower’s “skin.” Although the developers describe the “skin” as “unlike traditional billboard signage” and that it will display public service announcements, company updates from within the district, as well as advertisements. I think that the tower’s “skin” needs to be reevaluated. By this, I mean, displaying advertisements around the tower and using the focal point of the project as a big billboard, it could cheapen the entire project and cause hesitation for people to join in on the excitement. And, the overall project will be a great benefit to the transformation of Greater Downtown Miami and a contributor to the future tech success of Miami on a global map. But, again, I hope that the developer revaluates the planned “skin” of the tower. Although the thought for the tower’s interactive “skin” was meant to show the world that Miami has a special flair and is creating a home for the tech world, I just don’t think this is going to go over well with the locals.
The tower at the ground level, will include a public plaza, amphitheater and retail space. The tower will host many observation decks including a “garden in the sky” overlooking Biscayne Bay and the vibrant Miami skyline and will include restaurants.
Benefits for Greater Downtown Miami
The Miami Innovation District will be beneficial to the Greater Downtown Miami area by bringing in tax revenue, creating jobs and generating overall economic growth. According to innovatemiami.com, the tower will bring more than 1,700 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs to Overtown. The tower will also serve as a means to bring over 13,000 high-paying jobs to the City of Miami.
When
The developers of the Miami Innovation District expect to receive full city approval sometime at the end of 2015. Construction on the mixed-use project is anticipated to begin within 1 year of approval, with an estimated completion in five years.
Please tell me what you think about the project! See below for more renderings of the Miami Innovation District.
