Plans for 78-Story Tower in Brickell Goes to FAA for Height Permit

The 78-story mixed-use tower 18, also known as 18 At 8th, which was launched back in 2017, has big intentions that Karam Group and Claro Development have revived. This building would stand tall at 954 feet above mean sea level and replace an existing single-story strip mall at the southwest corner of South Miami Avenue and Southwest 8th Street in Brickell.

Recent filings of building permits with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirm the development toward making this lofty ambition a reality. The skyscraper will provide a total of 923,000 square feet of space, including 392 residential units, 66,618 square feet of retail space, and 464 parking spaces, thanks to Miami's Urban Development Review Board's prior approval. This tower is expected to be a landmark in Miami's skyline thanks to the skilled architects of Nichols Architects, formerly NBWW Architects.

The property is owned by City Center Prop LLC, a company connected to Simon and Antoine Karam and their real estate investment group, the Karam Group. They have had possession of the property since January 2006.

The tower's architectural renderings, which show a highly curved and constantly shifting framework, first surfaced towards the end of 2016 or the beginning of 2017. Standing only 30 feet short of meeting the supertall requirements, the skyscraper appears to be a stunning and exciting addition to the skyline.

The tower has a distinctive structure that begins with a firm foundation and spreads as it grows taller. The apartments get bigger and provide more magnificent views as the building gets taller. The balconies are positioned to emphasize the tower's growth, create the appearance of a continuously expanding structure, and provide access to the surrounding landscape. As a result, the tower has a genuinely organic shape that seems to open and embrace the scenery as it soars to the sky.

The base of the tower has a slope snaking around the outside of it, giving the impression that the podium is collapsing beneath the weight of the tall building. Vertical fins create dramatic shadows on the glass facade of the base, which houses parking spaces and four floors of retail space, highlighting this alluring design aspect.