A growing and dynamic city, Miami continues to experience changes and diversified projects brought by the building boom in 2017. Luxury residential towers, commercial buildings, and financial hubs are continuously being developed in the Magic City. From prime beachside locations to the Brickell financial district, there is no shortage of new and upcoming buildings in the Miami area.
Building and transforming the Miami metro landscape are expert contractors who specialize in all facets of construction. In this list, we rounded up the best large building developers in Miami in collaboration with a top contractor in the city. The firms below possess some of the largest revenues nationally and internationally, with impressive lists of accolades, diverse portfolios, and prolific projects.
Amicon Construction
7448 NE 4th Court, Miami, FL 33138
Established in 1996, Amicon Construction specializes in pre-construction, construction management, and other general contracting services. Headquartered in South Florida, Amicon has expanded its reach with active projects in other markets including all of Florida, Arizona and Maryland. Amicon offers a full suite of integrated services allowing for a customized approach to meeting each client’s goals. The company, led by Adam Mopsick and Ross Adickman, continues to revolutionize the construction industry by focusing on management, leadership, and advocacy for every client.
Amicon’s team has specialized experience working with local and out-of-state developers to deliver projects towards the client’s unique targets. 1824 Alton Road consists of a mixed-use 110,000-square-foot building designed by Kobi Karp. Anchor tenants include Michaels, Starbucks, and CitiBank as well as other retailers. This class A property recently transacted for a record high to an institutional investor. Backed by dedicated divisions in owner representation and costing, Amicon is uniquely positioned to provide strategic leadership in the preconstruction, permitting, and construction phases.
Butters Group
6820 Lyons Technology Cir. Suite #100, Coconut Creek, FL 33073
Butters Group is a design-build, development and property management firm based in Coconut Creek, FL, currently led by CEO Mark Butters and CFO Malcolm Butters. Since its founding in 1990, the company has constructed more than 10 million square feet of commercial space in South Florida, and currently manages and leases 3.2 million square feet of property. The firm currently owns and manages a total of approximately 3 million square feet of commercial space, which is comprised of office, industrial, and retail facilities, from Atlanta to Miami.
Butters Group is an active member of the commercial real estate development association NAIOP South Florida Chapter, and Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA). The company has received a number of awards from NAIOP, BOMA and other institutions, including a South Florida Business Journal Diamond Award in 2002, and 5 NAIOP Developer of the Year Awards.
The firm’s client list include some of the biggest names in the tech, fast food, and entertainment industries, such as Amazon, Walmart, McDonald’s, Volkswagen, and 20th Century Fox. It built the 147,840-square-foot warehouse facility of the Miami Trade International. The LEED-certified building features impact glass that allows natural lighting throughout the facility, and is also equipped with T-5 lighting.
Civic Construction
4691 SW 71st Ave., Miami, FL 33155
Civic Construction is a company that has repeatedly proven it can keep up with the pace of booming urban developments in Miami’s high-end neighborhoods by creating luxurious spaces perfect for urban living. It has built a variety of high-rise, mid-rise, and multi-family developments and hospitality hotel projects throughout the city, as well as townhomes, custom luxury residences, restaurants and office buildings. Additionally, it has also done commercial, educational, and retail projects throughout the states of Florida and New York.
The firm is headed by founder and CEO William Real. A graduate of the University of Miami’s School of Architecture, Real has been serving the city for 22 years as a general contractor. He established Civic in 1999 and has built opulent buildings all over the city. Recently he has turned the firm’s focus to the high-end neighborhoods of metro Miami, such as the Brickell District and Coral Gables.
One of the company’s recent developments is the Brickell Ten, a luxury condominium development in the heart of Miami’s financial district. The 155-unit building has an aluminum and glass exterior for a modern vibe, with more than 13,900 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Residents can enjoy its luxurious units that feature nine-foot ceilings, an open plan layout, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, and porcelain tile throughout.
Coastal Construction Group
5959 Blue Lagoon Dr. Suite #200, Miami, FL 33126
Coastal Construction Group has become one the biggest names in construction, not only in Miami but across the country. It is one of the top 100 construction management companies in the country, with its myriad of commercial and residential projects and a distinguished list of public and private clients. In 2014, it was named Southeast Contractor of the Year by ENR, and was included in the South Florida Business Journal’s Top 100 Companies.
Thomas Murphy, Jr. founded the group in 1989. Tom started his career as a laborer and worked his way up to licensed general contractor, Florida’s youngest ever at age 19. He continued excelling in his field, took over the family business, and grew it into a billion dollar corporate enterprise. Today, he leads the company in its extraordinary projects that include the $159 million Le Palais Royal, the Biltmore Hotel, and homes for Oprah Winfrey and Dan Marino.
The firm is responsible for building the renowned Porsche Design Tower. The $560 million residential skyscraper in Sunny Isles Beach stands at 641 feet with 60 stories. It is unique for its robotic parking garage, having 284 parking spaces for 132 units, allowing unit owners to park up to four cars right outside their unit. Each unit is estimated at $4 million to $32.5 million. The tower won the Project of the Year – Eagle Award in the 2017 Excellence in Construction Awards of the ABC Florida East Coast Chapter.
First Florida
31 NW 23rd St., Miami, FL 33127
Miami-based general contractor First Florida started in the building industry in 1963 when the original owners of Burger King Corporation invited B.E. Miller to organize a construction company to build their restaurants throughout the United States. From there, it expanded its client base until it became the nation’s largest restaurant builder by 1982. The company continued its aggressive expansion program until it was constructing large commercial and industrial projects throughout Florida.
Today, the company specializes in multi-family housing, hotels, and senior living buildings. The majority of its work consists of market-rate rental apartments and low-income residential buildings for senior housing all over the state of Florida. The has also constructed thousands of rooms for the country’s largest hotel chains, including Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, and Hampton Inn.
The firm is headed by its president, Greg Wyka. He started his construction career with First Florida in 1996 and has completed over $700 million in construction projects. In his career with the firm, he has built over 6,000 multi-family housing units, hotels, and elderly housing facilities, and has been involved in multiple Green Building certified projects.
Grycon
4101 Ravenswood Rd. Suite #325, Dania Beach, FL 33312
Grycon is one of the leading firms in the state of Florida that provides building and construction management. Its primary focus is on commercial, institutional, and residential buildings throughout the state. The firm has been named Contractor of the Year at the Latin Builders Association Awards.
The company itself may be young, but its team is experienced. Its management has more than 175 years of experience, and manages to stay on top of the game by building long-term relationships with clients based on safety, quality, and top-notch service. Its vice president, Eric Montes de Oca, is responsible for business development and field operations, and serves as project executive on a variety of high-profile large-scale projects. Montes de Oca has worked in the construction industry for more than 20 years, and 18 of those have been with the Grycon team. Additionally, he is president-elect of the Latin Builders Association, the largest Hispanic construction association in the U.S.
One of the company’s notable projects is the the Noel P. Brown Expansion of the NSU University School. The sports center addition spans 59,000 square feet and includes state-of-the-art training and fitness rooms for student-athletes participating in 15 different sports. The building is LEED Gold Certified, and was an Eagle Award Winner at the 2017 Excellence in Construction Awards of the ABC Florida Chapter.
John Moriarty and Associates
1942 Tyler St., Hollywood, FL 33020
John Moriarty and Associates is a general contracting and construction management company specializing in luxury residences along Miami’s beaches and high-end districts. The firm is constantly chosen by prolific developers to build the region’s most high-profile, complex and landmark projects, including commercial mixed-use projects, hotels, and luxury high residential buildings.
The firm is currently headquartered in its birthplace, Massachusetts. Founder John Moriarty has guided the company since its inception in 1985 and its expansions throughout the East Coast. In Florida, operations are headed by John Leete, who has been with the firm since 1988. In addition to construction, the South Florida office is an active supporter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The organization recognized the company’s efforts and named it “Corporate Philanthropist of the Year” in 2017.
One of the firm’s notable works is the Glass 120 building in Miami Beach’s South-of-Fifth neighborhood. Standing at 18 stories, its exudes opulence and exclusivity in its 10 units and three-story penthouse. Each unit is a glass-enclosed home occupying its own private floor, offering 360 degree views of the ocean, Biscayne Bay, and cities of Miami and Miami Beach. It was designed by world-renowned architect Rene Gonzalez.
Juneau
5775 Blue Lagoon Dr. Suite #400, Miami, FL 33126
With 50 Awards of Excellence for quality projects, over 85% repeat business and employee retention rates, and its current status as one of ABC’s Diamond Level Safety STEP Safety Award recipients, Juneau has a lot to be proud of. The Atlanta-based general contracting and at-risk construction management company offers general contracting, construction management, and design/build services throughout the Southeast. Juneau’s portfolio reveals an emphasis on higher education, commercial, hospitality, student housing, multifamily, and mixed-use properties.
The company has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1997 as a 200 square-foot office with one employee. In 2011, it started operations in Miami, Florida and this year opened a Tampa office. Today, it has over $250 million in revenue with 150 employees in offices located in Atlanta, Miami and Tampa. Leading the firm is CEO, Nancy Juneau, a 35-year veteran of the construction industry with husband and President, Les Juneau by her side.
Juneau recently built the luxurious 121 Marina at the Ocean Reef Club. The nine-series complex sports a striking difference that separates it from the other condominiums nearby. Sharper lines, richer exposed materials, and an inviting and more modern layout address a younger yet equally affluent demographic. Along with the gorgeous unites, residents can enjoy private boat dockage separate from the other areas within the Ocean Reef. This project recently won an Excellence in Construction Award from ABC’s Florida East Coast Chapter. Juneau is currently under construction on Cocowalk in Coconut Grove, where they are revamping the existing shopping center and adding a 5-story Class A Office building.
Kaufman Lynn
3185 S Congress Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33445
Kaufman Lynn Construction is a full-service commercial construction company that has done extensive construction and renovations in several markets, including multi-family housing, senior living, hospitality, government/public safety, education, and healthcare. Since 2016, it has consistently ranked as a top general contractor in ENR’s 400 largest contractors nationwide. Its list of accolades include awards from the ABC Florida East Coast and Gulf Coast Chapters, and Construction of South Florida Awards.
At the helm of the company is founder and CEO Michael Kaufman. Prior to starting the company in 1989, he held several positions in companies in the industry, including project manager and estimator. His experience is further proven in various projects such as multi-family, commercial, and institutional projects ranging from $500,000 to $16 million. Today, the firm has expanded its service to North Carolina and Texas.
The firm showcased its capabilities and expertise in its new headquarters in Delray Beach. The three-story building is a combination of concrete, steel, and glass all woven by an aluminum veil. An eye-catching metal screen on its facade gives the building a unique architectural identity. Inside, a variety of high-end materials, cedar planks, Venetian plaster, and a mix of exposed and concealed ceilings provide a functional yet beautiful space.
Moss & Associates
2101 N Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
Ft. Lauderdale-based Moss & Associates is a construction management firm that creates award-winning, sustainable, and innovative buildings. What started as a family business steadily grew into a nationally-acclaimed company. Today, the firm has 10 regional offices with more than 600 professional staff, and ranks 71st on ENR’s most recent Top 400 Contractors list, with roughly $1.1 billion in 2017 revenue.
Setting aside its impressive portfolio and long list of awards, the company attributes its strength and success to its leadership. The firm has long been in the care of the Moss family, starting with its founder and the Moss patriarch, Bob Moss. Bob has been recognized numerous times for his expertise and leadership, with the most recent one being ENR Southeast’s 2018 Legacy Award Winner. Scott Moss followed early in his father’s footsteps, having been exposed around job sites and working in the field starting at age 17. Today, Scott serves as the company’s president and collaborates closely with his employees.
The firm constructed the University of Miami’s Donna E. Shalala Student Center in the heart of the Coral Gables campus. The signature contemporary structure, with three floors of public spaces, creates a landmark presence on the centrally-located Lake Osceola, without overshadowing the existing structures surrounding the picturesque body of water. It also features a large multipurpose room capable of adapting into banquet, lecture or performance spaces.
Plaza Construction
120 NE 27th Suite #600, Miami, FL 33137
Established in 1986, Plaza Construction has built a reputation in the national building scene as one of the country’s top construction management and general contracting firms. This multifaceted firm is recognized for building prestigious hospitality, commercial, corporate, and residential properties. Headquartered in New York, the firm also has offices in Los Angeles, Miami, New Jersey, Orlando, San Jose, Tampa, and Washington, D.C.
The company’s CEO, Richard Wood, steers the company and has been instrumental in establishing regional offices across the nation. Alongside Richard Wood is Brad Meltzer, Plaza’s President and Managing Director for the Southeast region. He has a background in architecture and construction, which includes the building of a myriad of notable projects in South Florida such as, the Paraiso District in Edgewater, the Ritz Carlton Residences in Miami Beach, the Aventura Mall Expansion and the W Hotel is South Beach.
One of its most iconic buildings Plaza has built is the One Thousand Museum. Dubbed the “Scorpion Tower” by the media, it stands 62 stories tall, making it the fourth tallest building in Miami. It is one of the last projects of the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid. The extraordinary project was featured in PBS’s Impossible Builds and won an ENR 2018 Global Award for Best Project – Specialty Construction, as well as ENR 2019 Best Projects Award for Residential and Safety categories; International Property Award for Residential High-Rise in Florida, and South Florida Business Journal Best Architecture and Design Finalist.
Skanska USA
330 SW 2nd St. Suite #207, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Skanska is a multinational construction and development company based in Sweden. It has a long and decorated history in building. What started in a small fishing village in Sweden 125 years ago, is now the fifth largest construction company in the world. In the USA, it has projects in almost all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
The ENR listed Skanska as the 8th largest building/manufacturing contractor by revenue, and the 3rd largest heavy contractor by revenue. Its Florida operations are headed by Michael C. Brown. His experience spans 30 years of business development and project management, backed by active community participation in civic roles. The company has completed various projects in Florida for state and local governments, educational institutions, hospitals, airports, and commercial sports and entertainment organizations.
One of its notable projects is a 24,000 square-foot solar pavilion on the East Plaza of the American Airlines Arena, the home of the NBA Miami Heat in downtown Miami. This partnership with NRG Energy transformed the underutilized space into an elegant showcase area with forward-thinking aesthetics and a clean-energy design. The focal points are the circles spanning 16 to 24 feet in diameter that appear to be skylights, but are actually translucent solar panels utilizing Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) solar technology.
Stiles
301 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Stiles Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, with services including development and construction. It has offices in Miami, West Palm Beach, Naples/Fort Myers, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville, Florida. It firmly adheres to its mission of ‘Invest. Build. Manage’ when it comes to its work. This encompasses office, industrial, retail, mixed-use and residential projects throughout the Southeast.
Howard K. Stiles founded the company in 1951 as a residential general contracting firm. Howard’s son, Terry Stiles, took over two decades later. Early on, Terry recognized South Florida’s potential for development, leading him to pivot his focus to commercial real estate. Since then, the firm went on to build and develop over 43 million square feet, establishing Stiles as an industry leader and economic influencer in South Florida. Terry now sits as Chairman, while his son Ken took over as CEO in 2017. Stiles has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the BOMA TOBY Awards, and the NAIOP South Florida Project of the Year.
The firm was responsible for the construction of this state-of-the-art four-story dealership for the European car company, Audi, located at 1200 North Federal Highway. Boasting a total 160,877 square feet, the dealership features a showroom and office administration space, service and parts center, parking storage to accommodate 300+ cars, 24 mechanical service bays, and a second-floor car wash with four detail bays.
Suffolk
One Biscayne Tower Suite #2700, 2 S Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33131
Suffolk’s beginnings trace back to a Boston startup founded in 1982. Now, after extensive growth throughout the country, it operates office locations in Boston, New York, West Palm Beach, Estero, Miami, Tampa, Dallas, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. It is the largest construction contractor in South Florida by volume and one of the 20 largest in the country. In 2018, Forbes reported that the company is the 148th largest private company in the U.S., and the 23rd on Engineering News-Record’s Top 400 Contractors list.
The firm is known for actively fusing technology with construction and building. This is in line with company’s mission to ‘Build Smart’ in all its projects. In the company’s Smart Labs which are located in main offices, the CAVE technology boasts a room where people wearing virtual reality goggles can “enter” simulations of construction projects. John Fish, the company’s Founder and CEO, is behind all the efforts of the company to stay up to date with current trends in the industry.
Rising 650 feet into the air, the 55-story, 192-unit, Jade Signature is one of the projects the firm built using state-of-the-art technology. In addition to being the largest residential tower in Sunny Isles Beach, Suffolk achieved a first in South Florida with this project—a parking garage 60 feet under sea level. Other features of the tower include large continuous balconies for an increase in livable square footage, continuous glass circling the building to allow for an unobstructed view from all directions, and 32 unique types of sculptural concrete column shapes. Dezeen named it as one of the Top 10 Skyscrapers of 2018 and ranked it sixth on Engineering News Record Southeast’s 2012 Top Starts in the Southeast list.
Turner Construction
7235 Corporate Center Dr., Suite G Miami, FL 33126
North America-based, international construction services company Turner Construction is a leading builder in diverse market segments. It builds an impressive 1,500 projects a year valued at an average of $12 billion. The 116-year-old company was founded by Henry Turner with $25,000 in start-up capital in New York City. In 1926, it completed its first project in Miami, the Venetian Hotel, followed by the 12-story Ingraham Building, and the landmark Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach.
David Robinson is the general manager in charge of the Florida leg of the company. Robinson joined Turner’s Boston office in 1986 as a field engineer. He transferred to the Miami office in 2005 to serve as manager of their Special Projects Division, and continued to work his way up.
Some of the iconic buildings the firm has built are the Dubai Sheraton Hotel, the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates, and Madison Square Garden in New York City. In Miami, it built the three-story, 476,000 square-foot Telemundo Global Headquarters and Broadcast Studios. It is home to the television giant’s corporate offices, novella and broadcast studios, and support areas for the news and sports networks.
