Swiss-Italian global cruise line MSC Cruises and Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri Infrastructure recently broke ground at PortMiami on North America’s upcoming largest cruise terminal capable of berthing three next‐generation cruise ships simultaneously and turning around 36,000 passengers a day. Located at the eastern most end of Dodge Island, along Port Boulevard, the new 4‐story, 492,000-square-foot, state‐of‐the‐art terminal will become an instant architectural wonder and Miami landmark. Designed by Miami‐based Arquitectonica led by visionary Bernardo Fort-Brescia, the terminal projects a powerful wave-like, flowing profile that takes advantage of the length of the site.
The design maximizes the limited footprint by creating a layered embark and debark experience, allowing both processes to overlap seamlessly. The form of the building expresses this layering visually, highlighting the idea of vessels departing and arriving from Port Miami.
MSC Cruises Terminal. Exterior rendering courtesy of Arquitectonica.
The ground transportation area and the elevated drop‐off allows passengers a convenient and shaded area out of the elements for baggage drop‐off and screening process. Above, the design of the parking garage reduces the number of parking levels while providing 2,400 vehicle spaces. To enhance the embark and debark experience, the technologically advanced terminal includes biometric screening commonly used in today’s airport for increased security and efficiency.
MSC Cruises Terminal. Exterior rendering courtesy of Arquitectonica.
Arquitectonica is also the interior designer. As landscape architect for the project, ArquitectonicaGEO designed the terminal’s entry plaza landscape and hardscape for the flagship terminal.
MSC Cruises Terminal. Interior rendering courtesy of Arquitectonica.
MSC Cruises Terminal. Interior rendering courtesy of Arquitectonica.
MSC Cruises Terminal. Interior rendering courtesy of Arquitectonica.
MSC Cruises Terminal. Interior rendering courtesy of Arquitectonica.
Welcoming more passengers than any other port in the world, PortMiami, also known as the Cruise Capital of the World, has seen unprecedented growth in recent years. Today’s groundbreaking comes on the heels of Virgin Voyages’ grand opening in February of its Flagship Terminal V at PortMiami, also designed by Arquitectonica.
MSC Cruises Terminal. Interior rendering courtesy of Arquitectonica.
MSC Cruises Terminal. Interior rendering courtesy of Arquitectonica.
MSC Cruises Terminal. Interior rendering courtesy of Arquitectonica.
MSC Cruises Terminal. Exterior rendering courtesy of Arquitectonica.
The new mega‐terminal consolidates MSC’s overall presence at PortMiami and reflects the company’s investment and commitment to the maritime community and South Florida. The terminal is due to be completed by the end of 2023, with an estimated cost of $350 million.
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Is there any city that is so dominated by one architectural firm? looks great and I love their work, just amazed by how many current projects are by Arquitectonica