The 92-year-old Miami-Dade County Courthouse at 73 Flagler Street may see a new neighbor rise across the street; the proposed 474-foot-tall, 23-story Miami-Dade County Civil and Probate Courthouse was approved by the Miami-Dade Rapid Transit Developmental Impact Committee back in February of 2021. Designed by HOK, the 537,968-square-foot courthouse building is anticipated to become one of the tallest governmental-use towers in Miami.
Plenary Group, an Australian infrastructure investment firm, is the developer behind the proposals for the new courthouse under Plenary Justice Miami, LLC. The narrow piece of property is located within the western portion of Downtown Miami, also recognized as a part of the Central Business District, and in close proximity to the Government Center Metromover Station and the Interstate 95; bounded by Northwest 1st Avenue to the west, West Flagler Street to the south, Northwest 1st Street to the north and the HistroyMiami Museum to the south. Being that the property is owned by Miami-Dade County, developers had to submit a bid to be selected, where Plenary Group’s proposal was picked as the winner, likely due to the lower construction costs for the project. Other competing proposals were submitted by M-S-E Judicial Partners LLC and Sacyr Infrastructure USA.
Miami-Dade County Civil and Probate Courthouse; designed by HOK.
Miami-Dade County Civil and Probate Courthouse; designed by HOK.
Renderings from HOK reveal several elevations with offset window forms, creating a jagged-like texture from afar. The structure will be made of reinforced concrete and clad in what appears to be light-grey masonry with hints of metal trims scattered throughout the building and large floor-to-ceiling glazed windows. The eastern elevation facing the old courthouse features a slightly protruding volume enclosed in glass as well.
Likely due to minimizing construction costs, Miami-Dade County is permitting the project to proceed overriding several regulations. The parking garage will not require screening, and only 11% of the site will be open space whereas the requirement is typically 15%. A building’s facade normally requires 40% glazing, but in this case it will be at 27%. The proposed development can have blank walls facing the public without an artistic expressions such as mosaics or murals, and 0 site trees will be planted, whereas the required amount is 30.
Miami-Dade County Civil and Probate Courthouse; designed by HOK.
Miami-Dade County Civil and Probate Courthouse; designed by HOK.
Miami-Dade County Civil and Probate Courthouse; designed by HOK.
Miami-Dade County Civil and Probate Courthouse; designed by HOK.
Tutor Perini Corporation is the general contractor for the project.
Construction equipment has been spotted on the site, so ground breaking could occur soon.
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maybe: functional and cold. It figures.