After considering several world-class architects, Genting Malaysia Berhad (Genting) has selected Miami-based Arquitectonica as the master plan architect for Resorts World Miami.
An official signing ceremony with KT Lim, chair and chief executive of Genting, and Bernardo Fort-Brescia, co-founder and principal of Arquitectonica, took place during a June reception for more than 200 business and civic leaders at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
The Arquitectonica appointment came less than three weeks after Genting’s purchase of approximately 13.9 acres of land currently housing the Miami Herald Media Company and an adjacent parking lot.
Resorts World Miami will include hotel, convention, entertainment, restaurant, retail, residential and commercial facilities — all designed in accordance with the city’s comprehensive zoning code, Miami 21, and focusing on sustainable and LEED certified solutions.
The project is expected to create tens of thousands of construction and permanent jobs. Genting’s expected total investment will be $3 billion, including $236 million for the purchase of the site.
“Arquitectonica’s unique brand of modern Miami architecture, coupled with its worldwide experience designing mixed-use developments and destination resorts and knowledge of Miami’s planning guidelines, makes the firm a natural fit to spearhead the conceptual planning of Resorts World Miami,” Lim said.
“We have identified a local firm with global expertise which will generate much needed work for the Florida architecture industry. Working with Arquitectonica, we will invite other world-class architects to design specific elements of the master plan, providing iconic buildings and structures that will further enhance the downtown Miami skyline.”
Bernardo Fort-Brescia, co-founder and principal of Arquitectonica, noted, “I have visited Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore and was impressed by the design, the quality of landscaping, the world class art and the high caliber of the project’s operations. Resorts World Miami will be a great contribution to the tourism, entertainment and real estate markets of Miami and South Florida.”
Genting is a member of the Genting Group, which has a 25-year track record of investing in the United States. Its business in Florida started 11 years ago when it acquired Miamibased Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). The Genting Group currently owns 50 percent of NCL. In 2006, Genting partnered with Universal Studios to build Universal Studios Sentosa, which is part of the $5.5 billion Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, the world’s most successful destination.
“Genting knows Florida well and we have seen Miami evolve into an international gateway city for the Americas linking Latin America and Europe,” said Mike Speller, president of Resorts World. “Resorts World Miami will be another big boost for the South Florida economy and Miami’s status as a global tourist destination.”
The Resorts World Miami site features 800 feet of waterfront on Biscayne Bay to the east and is bounded by the MacArthur Causeway (part of I-395) on the south, Biscayne Boulevard (part of US 1) on the west, and the Venetian Causeway on the north. Both causeways link Miami International Airport with downtown Miami and South Beach, one of world’s top beach destinations. The land is located directly across the street from the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and immediately north of Miami’s new Museum Park development, the future home of Miami Art Museum and Miami Science Museum.
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