Originally built in the 1960s, Southgate Towers in Miami Beach was in dire need of reconstructive surgery.
Enter Stantec, the firm that spearheaded the $40 million multi-phase renovation, overhauling everything from the lobby to the amenity areas to the roughly 500 units themselves.
The final phase of the redesign was completed over the summer. With an ideal location at 9th Street and West Avenue, the rental development is already proving to be a stifling commodity, with over 90 percent of its 495 units occupied.
Located on the bay, facing Star Island and Downtown Miami in the distance, the idea for updating the main areas revolved around neutral tones and modern custom furnishings, so as not to distract the eye from the dynamite views but to accentuate it.
"We succeeded in paying homage to the property’s history, while bringing it into the present," as Stantec Director of Hospitality and Residential Susan LaFleur puts it.
As for the residences, there’s new carpeting in the bedrooms, porcelain tile and custom rugs in the living areas and bathrooms, new lighting fixtures and European-style cabinetry.
Add in the new hurricane-proof windows, updated appliances, and open layout, and the apartments are fit for 2016 living.