MIAMI (AP) — Demolition crews are preparing to bring down a luxury hotel tower in one of Miami’s most prestigious areas this Sunday to clear space for an even larger development.
The former Mandarin Oriental in Miami will be destroyed through a controlled explosion on Brickell Key, an artificial island located where the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay, directly across from the city center. City officials report this will be Miami’s biggest controlled demolition in over ten years.
The tower, which rises 23 floors and first welcomed guests a quarter-century ago, is projected to crumble within moments after explosives detonate at 8:30 a.m. Swire Properties announced the destruction will clear the site for construction to begin on The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, an ultra-high-end dual-tower complex featuring both hotel accommodations and private residences, with an anticipated opening date of 2030.
Developers report the demolition process required almost two years of preparation and collaboration with expert contractors and municipal authorities. They chose the implosion method as the most secure and effective approach to stay on schedule while reducing disturbances and protecting residents of the Brickell Key area.
