Miami's Often Forgotten High-Rise History

[Pablo63090]

Former tallest buildings:

1913-1925: McAllister Hotel, Biscayne Boulevard (Demolished in Late 1989)
1925-1928: Freedom Tower, Biscayne Boulevard (Tallest in Florida, 1925-1926)
(The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables was the tallest in Florida and Dade County during this time)
1928-1965: Dade County Courthouse, Flagler Street (Tallest in the Southeastern U.S., 1928-1932; Tallest in Florida, 1928-1965)
1965-1971: New World Tower, Biscayne Boulevard (Tallest occupiable skyscraper in Florida, 1965-1967)
1971*-1972: SunTrust International Center, S.E. Third Street
1972*-1981: One Biscayne Tower, Biscayne Boulevard (Tallest occupiable skyscraper in Florida, 1972-1974)
1981*-1983: Edward Ball Tower at the Miami Center, Biscayne Boulevard
1983*-2002: Southeast Financial Center, Biscayne Boulevard (Tallest in the Southeastern U.S., 1983-1987)
2002*-Present: Four Seasons Hotel & Tower, Brickell Avenue

*Topped Out, Completed Following Year

Former tallest residential buildings:

1963-1972: Brickell Townhouse
1972-1974: Palm Bay Towers
1974-1980: Brickell Bay Club
1980-1981: Plaza Venetia
1981-1997: The Palace
1997-2007: The Santa Maria
2007-2008: 900 Biscayne
2008-Present: Marquis
(All were the tallest residential buildings in the Southeast U.S. when built.)

[The Mad Hatter!!]

pablo....what do you know about one brickell square?>the white tower with the setbacks,wasn't it like phase 1 of three towes when built.?

[Pablo63090]

It was part of a massive three phase office complex encompassing the corner of 8th Street & Brickell and the neighboring site which is now the site of the Plaza at Brickell. It was designed by SOM and its design is very simmilar to that of the Wachovia Financial Center, which was under construction at the time and was also designed by SOM. It was one of the first buildings on Brickell, along with 1221 Brickell and the Interterra Building, to include public pedestrian space. The land it's on sold for a record price in 1982, and construction began in 1984 at an estimated cost of $35 million. Construction was finished in 1985 and it was heralded by critics at the time. The marble clad lobby features year-round art exhibits and the tower was featured on "Miami Vice".

[The Mad Hatter!!]

did they ever release renderings for the other buildings,and also what info do you have on 1221?

[Pablo63090]

I don't have renderings on the other towers, but I think they were simmilar. 1221 Brickell was developed by Michael Adler back in 1983 and it was financed by AmeriSwiss Bank. When it was under construction, it was know under that name. The tower was designed by HKS (Harwood K. Smith) of Dallas and construction began in 1984. By late '85, the tower was completed. It provided some of the best views of Biscayne Bay & Key Biscayne until the recent high rise boom and it is pretty much the most 80's tower of all the towers in Miami. If you look at the lobby, it's just mirrors and neon lighting, and the design is reminicent of the 80's post-modern era. The big black section facing Brickell Avenue is actually the elevator shaft, providing for great views of the bay facing the windows. The major tenant after opening was Capital Bank, and for about a decade, it was known as the Capital Bank Tower. In recent years it has changed names and owners, but it's still one of the finest towers on Brickell Avenue. I hope the damage to the tower is repaired quickly. It's one of Miami's best buildings. By the way Hatter, are you a history buff?

[Don Pacho]

some of my very old pics of the brickell area...

[Don Pacho]

Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter!!

did they ever release renderings for the other buildings,and also what info do you have on 1221?

the 1221 before spiritu santo...
(taken when the barclays / jw mariott were under construction)

[magic-city]

Here is a very rare image of The McAllister under construction. Now 50 Biscayne is under construction on the same site.

I have some other images of Miami's former tallest, I'll dig them up and post over the next few days.

I love to see how Miami's skyline has developed over the last 100 years. It is truly the "Magic City"

[IMG][/IMG]

[rider_of_rohan]

Boy I remember those days...long time ago.
Some old pics. Somewhere around here I have pictures of Lincoln under construction and others on Brickell too. I was a big fan of the Miami vice type buildings down there, and South Miami too.

BOA under construction


Note the cranes just like now, Chuck must have been having fun then too. You can see Museum tower, Lincoln and what was then called the Centrust building (now the tallest BOA tower)

[magic-city]

Check out this image from circa 1971-72. One Biscayne headed for Miami's tallest for many years. First Federal aka Amerifirst, now SunTrust, almost complete and Miami Dade Community College under construction. Take a close look for the McAllister next to the One Biscayne





[IMG][/IMG]

[magic-city]

A short stint as Miami's Tallest. Here is a skyline view showing the Ed Ball Tower aka, Miami Center. Southeast Bank Tower under construction would soon be Miami's tallest for many years to come until the Four Seasons opened.


[IMG][/IMG]

[rider_of_rohan]

A few more older ones

Planes over Miami during WW2


And downtown 1925

[rider_of_rohan]

And the most beautiful building in Miami (on the inside for sure)
The old Olympic Theater built in 1926


and the inside

[Bobdreamz]

can we sticky this thread??
incredible archives of photos

[Toucano]

Stickied!

[Meepy]

Man nice collection of pics, my favorite would have to be the Miami Center tower picture.

[dave8721]

Miami Beach areal from the 1960's. See Octogon Towers and the Mirador, SouthGate Towers and others already standing. The convention center was a lot smaller back then.



Here is a Miami Map from 1919 (A motor boat race course in the bay? No Mannatee speed restrictions back then?)


How about this one, the Mouth of the Miami river circa 1885. Look at that green space at the Dupont Site


Roney Plaza (1920's)


Did the Coral Gables Waterway ever look like this with Gondolas and everything or was this just false advertising?
Coral Gables (1926)

[rider_of_rohan]

^ Damn dave that dupont site would have made a great park lol

[The Mad Hatter!!]

DON PANCHO,GREAT AERIALS

i never knew that at one time the palace was the tallest on brickell,i guess i learn something new everyday..

and pablo,yea i am a history buff atleast when it comes to miami history..i hope one day i'll be able to tell my kids some of the things you just told me,and add in alot of details fom the famous boom of 2004-2007

[Pablo63090]

Awesome pictures. Hey Magic-City, do you have any pictures of the Interterra Building around the early 80's before the awful remodeling job in the 90's?