This mixed-use development greatly expands the life and use of a local historic landmark. Located in the heart of busy downtown Coral Gables, DMJM restored the landmark structure and added 12,000 square feet of office space, retail shops, restaurants, a parking garage, and a four-star, 151-suite hotel. The original Colonnade building—with its magnificent, 50-foot-high rotunda—has been restored as the focal point of the development's interior public spaces. Responding to the context, the architecture of the new buildings echoes the scale and detail of the traditional Mediterranean-style 1920s structure. Sand-colored precast concrete panels, tinted and shaped to match the cast-stone panels used in the original building, are the primary exterior material. Richly patterned floors on the arcades, mission clay tile roofing, and design elements reminiscent of an earlier era are also featured. The public spaces abound with intricate detailing and finished of marble, brass, and mahogany, as well as Argentinian crystal chandeliers and specially created wall sconces. |
