ICON Brickell, Unique Urban Sanctuary on Biscayne Bay,
Breaks Ground in Miami
A high powered crew turned out for the groundbreaking at Icon Brickell. Jade Jagger, Philippe Starck, and John Hitchcox, partners in the London-based residential design firm YOO by Starck, donned hard hats and dug into the dirt alongside Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Commissioner Johnny Winton and representatives of Miami-based developers, The Related Group. This was no ordinary groundbreaking. With 1800 units, Icon Brickell is the biggest development to break ground in South Florida. To build Icon Brickell Towers I and II, TRG is receiving a $500 million loan, with HSBC as the lead lender. That is the largest condominium construction loan ever awarded in Florida. And TRG anticipates receiving an additional $200 million loan to complete Tower III, for a total construction loan of approximately $700 million.
“The size of the loan expresses the bank’s confidence in our company,” says TRG executive vice president Bill Thompson. “It also expresses the scale of Icon Brickell. This is the biggest project The Related Group of Florida has ever done. It’s the biggest project Starck has ever done. And I believe it is the largest residential condominium that has broken ground in South Florida in terms of the number of units, the square footage, and the amenities we offer. When you’re building the biggest, you make sure that it is the best.”
Buyers have responded to Icon Brickell in equally impressive numbers, choosing from a variety of spectacular floor plans for the one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences with breathtaking views of downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay, Key Biscayne, or South Beach. Priced from the $300s to more than $1 million, the units were first offered for sale less than twelve months ago. Yet sales already are approaching the billion dollar mark.
Because of its size, Icon Brickell can offer residents amenities rarely found in condominium living. Set on ten acres of bayfront property (including two public parks),
Icon Brickell offers a haven amid the rush of city life. The 28,000 square foot spa and fitness center features state-of-the-art cardio and weight training equipment, as well as spa treatments usually available only in exclusive resorts. The three towers will host a full-service restaurant on the pool terrace, and two additional full-service restaurants beside Biscayne Bay, as well as an exclusive rooftop lounge.
Each private residence offers additional amenities. Bathrooms are finished with elegant limestone flooring. Kitchens are equipped with Sub-Zero and Miele appliances and gorgeous Dellacasa cabinets. Smart building technology using the “interactive resident information system” anticipates every need. Residents will also have the option to upgrade their units with a finishing package designed by Yoo by Starck. The Classic and Culture upgrades bring Starck’s internationally acclaimed style into their private homes.
Inspired design makes Icon Brickell feel like a world apart. Starck’s signature style, famous for the designers playful sense of scale and bold mixing of periods, makes the exotic a part of everyday life. Monolithic Moai-style statues, like those found on Easter Island, flank the entrance, leading to a whimsical lobby, where guests can linger beneath the serene gaze of enormous gold masks. A life-size chess set and rooftop fireplace adorn an outdoor living room at the end of a 300-foot-long pool. A massive chandelier hangs above the plunge pools in the spa that overlooks Biscayne Bay.
