Miami is on the cusp of a historic transformation as developers race to build the city’s first supertall skyscrapers, ushering in a new era for its skyline. After years of stalled plans, seven supertall towers, each soaring over 984 feet, are now in various stages of development across the city. The Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Residences Miami, reaching a staggering 1,049 feet, is the most advanced, already climbing skyward. This marks the beginning of what could soon be the tallest section of skyline in the U.S. south of New York City.
A New Era for Miami’s Skyline
Fueled by an influx of new companies and wealthy individuals migrating to South Florida, Miami is undergoing rapid change. Billions of dollars have poured into the city in recent years, providing the necessary capital to finally pursue supertall towers. According to Dan Kaplan, a managing principal at PMG, “Miami is the center of the world right now, with a real estate market that has never been hotter.”
Developers, like those behind the Waldorf Astoria, are now selling condos for over $4 million, making these expensive projects financially viable. “The type of capital and the experience of developers involved is different,” said Juan Arias, CoStar’s director of market analytics for South Florida. Investors from New York and other major cities with similar skyscrapers are now setting their sights on Miami.
Miami Joins the Supertall Club
While Miami has flirted with tall buildings before—boasting Florida’s current tallest structure, the 868-foot Panorama Tower—the city has yet to break the elusive 1,000-foot mark. That, however, is poised to change. With developers eyeing higher ground, Miami is set to join an exclusive club of cities with supertall buildings, standing shoulder to shoulder with New York and Chicago.
Projects in the pipeline include RFR Realty’s 1,049-foot tower along Biscayne Boulevard and Florida East Coast Realty’s long-planned One Bayfront Plaza. Gencom and Hyatt’s Miami Riverbridge, featuring a skydeck 700 feet above the city, and the nearly 1,000-foot One Brickell City Centre, are also set to reshape the skyline. Even luxury brands are getting involved—JDS Development Group is teaming up with Dolce & Gabbana for a first-of-its-kind branded condominium-hotel, 888 Brickell.
Challenges of Building Tall in Miami
Despite the excitement, building supertall towers in Miami comes with unique challenges. The city’s limestone bedrock, high water table, and hurricane risks all make construction more complicated and costly. Developers must employ advanced engineering techniques like deep soil mixing and drive structural pylons deep into the ground to ensure stability.
Adding to the complexity, Miami’s proximity to Miami International Airport means developers must navigate strict Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) height restrictions. The FAA enforces a hard cap of 1,049 feet to avoid potential risks to flight paths, limiting the area zoned for supertalls to just over a square mile in downtown Miami and the Brickell district.
A Tall Future on the Horizon
While Miami’s supertall skyline won’t rival New York or Chicago’s immediately, the groundwork is being laid. In a few years, Miami could become a city where the offices, hotels, and residences soar into the sky, offering sweeping views and cementing its place as a global metropolis.
For now, Miami’s skyline is rising—quite literally. Once completed in 2028, the Waldorf Astoria will serve as the brand’s global flagship property, and with several other towers in the works, the city is poised to create one of the most striking skylines in the U.S.
Stay tuned as Miami reaches new heights, both physically and economically, and follow our blog and social media for updates on this exciting transformation!
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