Robert A.M. Stern died last week at the age of 86, leaving behind the legacy of a 60-year career designing schools, libraries, museums, and, most notably, condos.
The founder of Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) built a career out of making new things that feel old. He is best known for his prewar inspired works in New York City, including the Zeckendorfs’ 15 Central Park West, Vornado’s 220 Central Park South, Naftali’s Bellemont.
But as South Florida’s real estate market boomed in the post-pandemic years, flush with cash from inbound New Yorkers, their favorite architect followed. Stern left behind a pipeline of luxury condo projects in the works across the tri-county region, including some of South Florida’s most expensive new developments.
They include $120 million penthouses, private restaurants from Michelin-starred chefs and members clubs.
While they are perhaps the architect’s most high-profile South Florida projects yet, they are not his first. Stern employed an uncharacteristic modernism in designing the Miami Beach Library, which was completed in 2003. He also designed Rafael Díaz-Balart Hall at Florida International University College of Law in 2006. In 2023, Stern designed a single-family home in North Palm Beach’s gated Lost Tree Village neighborhood, for “long time and dear clients,” according to RAMSA’s website.
Here’s a look at RAMSA-designed developments in the pipeline:
Shore Club Private Collection
Witkoff Group and Monroe Capital tapped Stern’s RAMSA to design the Shore Club Private Collection, an Auberge Resorts-branded luxury condo and hotel development under construction in Miami Beach, on a strip that developers have branded “billionaires’ beach.” The project’s design is marked by its signature curves, floor-to-ceiling windows and light materials such as wood and marble.
Shore Club, at 1901 Collins Avenue, will include a restored circa-1939 building with 75 hotel rooms, a new 20-story, 49-unit condo building and a 6,000-square-foot single-family beach house. The condos will range from 1,900 square feet to more than 10,000 square feet. The project has been one of the most successful as of late in Miami Beach: A hidden buyer is under contract to pay more than $11,000 per square foot, a total purchase price of $120 million, for the penthouse. That price would set a record for condo sales in Florida.
Ocean Terrace
After hiring RAMSA for the Shore Club, Witkoff tapped the firm to design the interiors of the planned Ocean Terrace project it’s co-developing with Alex Blavatnik and Sandor Scher’s Ocean Terrace Holdings. Ocean Terrace, planned for the site between 74th and 75th Streets along Collins Avenue and Ocean Terrace in North Beach, will include a 52-unit condo, 24 condo-hotel units, a 42-key luxury hotel in a historic building and a private members’ club.
St. Regis Residences, Miami
The Pérez family’s Related Group and Integra Investments commissioned RAMSA to design their planned St. Regis Residences, Miami, a 50-story, 152-unit tower under construction at 1809 Brickell Avenue. The bayfront Brickell project has a projected sellout of more than $1 billion.
First envisioned as two 46-story towers with 330 units, the developers in 2022 eliminated one tower, reducing the number of units and raising prices. Amenities will include a fitness center, a pickleball court, a private marina, spa facilities and an indoor lap pool, as well as a St. Regis Tea Room and residents-only restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Fabio Trabocchi.
Tyko Capital provided the developers with $527 million in construction financing last year.
South Flagler House, West Palm Beach
RAMSA is the architect for Related Ross’ South Flagler House, the most expensive new development condo project in West Palm Beach. The median price for units in the two-tower, 28-story, 108-unit development at 1355 South Flagler Drive is $15 million.
Prices start at $7.9 million, and the penthouse is asking $73 million. South Flagler House’s amenities will include a pool, spa, fitness center, pickleball courts, salon, private dining room, catering kitchen, wine tasting room, library, media room, private offices, playroom, dog run and a sculpture garden, according to a brochure for the project.
In June, billionaire Related Ross Chairman and CEO Steve Ross secured $600 million in financing for the project, one of the largest residential construction loans in Florida this year. Bank OZK, GoldenTree Asset Management and TZ Capital provided the loan. Construction is expected to finish in 2027.
Corcoran’s Suzanne Frisbie, who heads sales for South Flagler House, said watching the construction is “like watching sculpture.”
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