Uruguay-based architecture studio Gómez Platero has revealed plans for Miami Bay Towers, a mixed-use development proposed for the former site of the historic Miami Herald headquarters on Miami’s waterfront. The project reimagines the long-vacant property with four sculptural residential towers, hospitality spaces, and publicly accessible waterfront amenities.
Located between Highway A1A and the Venetian Causeway, the rectangular site once housed the Miami Modern-style Miami Herald building, which was demolished in 2014. After the property sold for $1.2 billion in 2023, former Miami mayor Francis Suarez described it as “the most valuable piece of property in America”.
Four polyhedral towers define the masterplan
The proposal centres on four irregularly shaped skyscrapers that combine residential apartments with a hotel, restaurants, bars, wellness facilities, and retail spaces. Rather than adopting conventional tower forms, Gómez Platero designed faceted volumes with cantilevers and stepped setbacks, creating a distinctive skyline profile.
“The architectural proposal introduces four irregularly shaped towers with multifunctional podiums, aiming to maximise the visual and functional quality of the space while seamlessly integrating with the coastal edge and urban environment,” said the studio.
“The towers, envisioned as polyhedral volumes, break away from traditional orthogonal forms. The staggered silhouette emphasizes verticality and reduces perceived mass, creating an articulated ensemble with no ‘back side’.”
Meanwhile, multifunctional podiums would accommodate commercial spaces and parking while creating an active public realm at street level. A landscaped retail promenade would connect all four towers and extend pedestrian access beneath the highway viaduct toward the nearby Pérez Art Museum Miami.
The proposal also introduces new walkways leading to a marina extending into Biscayne Bay, strengthening connections between the waterfront and surrounding cultural destinations.
Public spaces and phased construction shape the vision
Beyond its sculptural architecture, Miami Bay Towers prioritises accessibility through interconnected outdoor spaces designed for residents and visitors alike. Consequently, the development seeks to transform an underused waterfront parcel into a mixed-use urban destination.
Structurally, the towers would feature reinforced vertical circulation cores supported by an external framework of angled columns that efficiently transfer loads to the podium structures.
Furthermore, Gómez Platero designed the project for phased delivery, allowing two towers to be constructed simultaneously. This strategy aims to improve construction logistics while maintaining commercial viability throughout development.
Although Miami Bay Towers remains a proposal, it joins a growing list of ambitious architectural projects planned across Miami’s rapidly evolving skyline, reflecting continued investment in mixed-use waterfront developments and contemporary high-rise design.