Vertical Construction Moving Along at JEM Miami Worldcenter in Downtown Miami

Construction is progressing on JEM Miami Worldcenter, a 67-story mixed-use residential tower rising at 1016 Northeast 2nd Avenue in Downtown Miami. Developed by New York City-based Naftali Group and designed by Arquitectonica with interiors by Rockwell Group, the skyscraper is planned to rise approximately 700 feet and span an estimated 741,252 square feet, yielding 273 condominium residences under the JEM Private Residences moniker and 530 multifamily units, along with 10,244 square feet of ground-floor retail space and 591 parking spaces. Coastal Construction is the general contractor for the development, which is being permitted under 175 Northeast 10th Street and occupies a full-block site bounded by Northeast 2nd Avenue, Northeast 10th Street, Northeast 11th Street, and Northeast 1st Avenue.

YIMBY recently covered the topping off of the building’s podium approximately one month ago, though that update did not include accompanying photography. YIMBY subsequently visited the site to capture new aerial images showing that construction has progressed beyond the podium, with several residential levels now rising above the recently completed base. The first photograph below, oriented toward the northern portion of the site and looking south, provides a clear view of the work along Northeast 2nd Avenue and Northeast 11th Street, as well as the current top of the superstructure. Reinforced concrete columns, shear walls, and freshly formed floor plates are visible across the upper levels, indicating the transition into the tower’s residential stack as vertical construction continues upward from the podium.

Photo by Oscar Nunez.

Before turning to the tower’s vertical progress, it is worth examining the podium and how it aligns with the renderings. The Northeast 2nd Avenue elevation is not a flat vertical plane, but instead is articulated with a series of recesses that step inward at multiple points before culminating in a sweeping curve at the corners. This geometry breaks up the horizontal slab edges and softens the overall massing, particularly at the intersections where the façade transitions into a rounded corner condition. Renderings indicate that these contours will be emphasized by a bronze or champagne-toned cladding system, likely composed of perforated metal panels, along with integrated greenery and vertical landscaping elements that will wrap portions of the podium.

The next image looks west across the site, offering a direct view of the east-facing elevation and the active staging areas below. This angle clearly reveals the podium’s parking structure, with its sloped slabs visible along the lower levels, while upper floors are filled with dense formwork, shoring, and vertical rebar assemblies awaiting subsequent concrete pours. Perimeter safety netting and edge protection systems line the slab edges, and multiple tower cranes, including Potain units, span across the site to support ongoing vertical construction. Concrete pumps are positioned at the top of the structure, feeding material to the upper levels where new floor plates and core elements are taking shape. This vantage point also highlights the full north-to-south extent of the development, illustrating how the tower spans the full frontage of the block. Beyond the tower, the background reveals the rear elevations of condominium towers lining Biscayne Boulevard across from Museum Park.

Photo by Oscar Nunez

The following three images are captured from a higher altitude, offering angled, oblique overviews of the site and a clearer understanding of the construction density at the upper levels. From this vantage point, the concentration of formwork, shoring systems, and vertical rebar assemblies becomes more apparent, particularly around the central core where the tower is beginning to assert itself above the podium. The footprint of the residential tower is now clearly defined, with the layout of floor plates and perimeter columns outlining the transition from the broader podium to the more vertically oriented mass of the superstructure.

Photo by Oscar Nunez

Photo by Oscar Nunez

Photo by Oscar Nunez

The next three images shift to the southern side of the superstructure, aligned along Northeast 10th Street. A dual hoist elevator setup is in the process of being assembled along this elevation, with guide rails and structural framing now visible as the system begins to climb in tandem with the building. One of the tower cranes is anchored adjacent to this portion of the structure, providing direct support for ongoing decking operations and material movement across the upper levels. In the background, the evolving construction of Miami’s Signature Bridge comes into view, adding another layer of large-scale infrastructure activity to the scene.

Photo by Oscar Nunez

Photo by Oscar Nunez

In the background, the evolving construction of Miami’s Signature Bridge comes into view, adding another layer of large-scale infrastructure activity to the scene.

Photo by Oscar Nunez

This current stage of shell work is expected to progress at a steady pace, driven by the repetitive nature of the floor plates that make up the multifamily portion of the tower. The current configuration of the superstructure suggests a consistent stacking sequence, allowing for efficient cycling of formwork and slab pours as the building continues to rise. Along the west elevation, the structure runs parallel to the elevated tracks of the Eleventh Street Metromover Station, where the curvature of the podium remains visible below the more uniform geometry of the floors above.

Photo by Oscar Nunez

Photo by Oscar Nunez

As vertical construction advances, the tower is anticipated to undergo another setback, accompanied by a reduction in floor plate size marking the transition into the upper-level condominium portion of the JEM Private Residences program. At that stage, the smaller and more uniform slab layouts are likely to allow for an accelerated pace of construction as the upper levels continue toward completion.

Photo by Oscar Nunez

Photo by Oscar Nunez

Groundbreaking took place in April 2024, less than six months after the project was introduced to the market. In 2025, Naftali Group secured $465 million in construction financing to support continued development. Completion is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2027.

Photo by Oscar Nunez

Located in the heart of Downtown Miami’s urban core, JEM’s condominium component, marketed as JEM Private Residences, will begin on the 43rd floor and include 273 units, highlighted by a collection of upper-level Sky Villas with interiors by FENDI Casa. Amenities are planned on the 50th floor and will feature a 60-foot outdoor pool with a sculpture by Lorenzo Quinn, an indoor sky lounge, fitness center, boxing arena, yoga patio, and a spa suite with steam, salt, and sauna rooms, along with co-working and social spaces.

JEM Private Residences. Credit: Naftali Group.

JEM Private Residences. Credit: Hayes Davidson.

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