In honor of Earth Day, here's a look at new Miami/South Florida restaurants, corporate event venues, hotels, conference centers, and private rooms that factor the environment into their design or operations. Many of these new and renovated Miami/South Florida venues have LEED certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council or another certification group. They can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, conferences, meetings, weddings, business dinners, teambuilding activities, cocktail parties, and more.
In March, Pérez Art Museum Miami received LEED Gold certification. Built with sustainability in mind, the museum incorporated innovative construction technology such as Cobiax voided slab technology, which uses 100 percent recycled plastic with rebar into concrete slabs, reducing the concrete used by 35 percent. It has a sustainable temperature-control system and also uses a signature design element—its hanging gardens—to filter sunlight and cool outdoor display areas. The museum has 200,000 square feet of programmable space, including 80,000 square feet outdoors. It offers several indoor and outdoor areas for private events, including the lobby, which holds 150 for receptions or seats 70 for banquets; the Kirk Landon and Pamela Garrison Terrace, which overlooks Biscayne Bay and holds 1,000 for receptions or seats 600 for banquets; and a 231-seat auditorium. It opened in December 2013.
The first location of the new eco-conscious hotel brand 1 Hotel opened in March. 1 Hotel South Beach, a 426-room property, opened in the former Gansevoort Hotel Miami space. The property, which is seeking LEED Silver certification, incorporates a number of sustainable elements such as energy-efficient heating and cooling systems; low-V.O.C paints, adhesives, sealants, and finishes; and reclaimed or recycled materials such as the wood used in the headboards and the pool deck. Guests will also have access to a fleet of Tesla electric vehicles for local trips. A 3,000-foot “living wall” with 11,000 local tropical plants wraps around the hotel’s exterior and contains interactive hanging terrariums and a plant laboratory from local artisans Plant the Future. The hotel has more than 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, including a 6,500-square-foot ballroom that holds 1,000 people for receptions or seats 700 theater-style or 460 at rounds for banquets. Another standout feature is a 26,000 rooftop lounge that includes a 112-foot-long pool. Chef Tom Colicchio will be opening three eateries at the property.
The modern steak house STK Miami has reopened at the new 1 Hotel South Beach. The restaurant is partnering with the eco-friendly hotel to compost its food waste. The 10,000-square-foot, bilevel space seats 252 guests on the ground floor and 137 guests on the mezzanine, which is suited for receptions. It also has a private dining room for 30. Other event-friendly amenities include a DJ lounge area.
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort opened a new event venue, BalQony, in March. The 4,500-square-foot oceanfront venue has indoor and outdoor event space on the hotel’s fourth floor and holds 300 guests for receptions or seats 180. One event-friendly amenity is a private elevator with direct access from the ground floor. The hotel, which is designated by the state as a Florida Green Lodging property, has extensive green operations in place, starting with its recently installed charging stations for Tesla vehicles. One major initiatives is its wind turbines, which generate power for the property and reduce its reliance on gas and oil. The hotel also installed an Enviro Pure composter that composts 900 pounds of food waste daily.
InterContinental Miami continues to add to its green initiatives following a $30 million renovation in 2012. In March it added a Tesla car-changing station, and in 2014 the hotel reduced food waste from meetings and events through the Orca Green Machine composter, which converts waste into recycled water. In eight months, the system diverted nearly 56 tons of waste from landfills. The hotel has also invested in computerized HVAC systems and an automated chiller plant to maximize energy efficiency. The hotel, a member of the Florida Green Lodging program, has more than 101,000 square feet of event space.
Courtyard Cadillac Miami Beach Oceanfront finished a $25 million renovation in December that included opening a 93-room, LEED-certified tower. Other amenities at the property include a new oceanfront saltwater pool, an updated lobby and meeting space, a renovated Carrabba's Surfside Tiki Bar, new poolside cabanas, and a new gym. The hotel's 5,803 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and function areas include the Golden Vee Ballroom, which is 2,278 square feet and holds 120 guests, and the Lawn, a 3,000-square-foot space with an infinity pool and nine cabanas that each fit eight guests. The 525-square-foot Chrome Boardroom is equipped with ergonomic chairs for a board meeting of 15.
Klima Restaurant and Bar, a Barcelona-inspired restaurant from Spanish owners, opened in March in Miami Beach. The 5,200-square-foot restaurant seats 70 guests at indoor and patio dining areas and also has a lounge with built-in sofas. Green features at the eatery include the recycled wood in the slatted ceiling as well as chef David “Rusti” Rustarazo’s use of local ingredients sourced from South Florida suppliers. The patio, which can be closed off for private events, features trailing foliage, potted plants, and other outdoor greenery.
The Chabraja Visitor Center at the Naples Botanical Garden opened in October 2014 and has received LEED Gold certification. Working with architecture firm Lake Flato of San Antonio—known for its sustainable design—the center includes recycled, reclaimed, and sustainably sourced building materials including Forest Stewardship Council-certified cumaru wood and reclaimed sinker cypress siding. An efficient low-flow irrigation system reduces water loss in the landscape, and a rainwater harvesting system stores water used for irrigation of areas such as the LaGrippe Orchid Gardens. For events, the venue offers several gardens, lawns, and plazas. Its largest event space is the Event Plaza, which holds as many as 1,000 for receptions.
Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa, a Kimpton property, opened in December in Palm Beach. The oceanfront hotel, formerly the Omphoy Ocean Resort, has 134 guest rooms and 6,000 square feet of meeting space. Kimpton has brand-wide environmental initiatives in place including the use of nontoxic cleaning supplies, an extensive recycling program, and efforts to minimize water consumption. In Palm Beach, the property offers guests night-vision goggles to observe sea turtles as they lay eggs or hatch. The goggles help protect the sea turtles, which include threatened and endangered species, from light that would disturb nesting or confuse hatchlings trying to make their way to the ocean.
Element Miami Doral, Starwood’s eco-friendly select service brand, opened in March as part of a dual-branded Starwood hotel development with the Aloft Miami Doral. Starwood mandates that all Element properties pursue LEED certification. The 139-room property has water-efficient faucets and fixtures and the in-room kitchenettes have Energy Star-rated appliances. For meetings, planners can book the meeting space at the Aloft hotel next door or hold casual gatherings on the hotel’s patio.
