Miami’s Brickell Key is entering a new era with The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, an ultra-luxury development comprising private residences and a new hotel, following the successful demolition of the building that housed the city’s former Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The milestone marks a significant step forward for the new development, which has achieved $1.3 billion in residential sales – including last month’s record-breaking dual penthouse sales totaling $100 million – ahead of groundbreaking later this year.

“Mandarin Oriental has been a defining part of Brickell Key for more than two decades, and the brand’s legacy will live on with the development of two towers set to transform residential living and hospitality in Miami,” said Dave Martin, President of Swire Properties. “With demolition now behind us, our team is eager to get going with vertical construction as we entertain buyers from across the U.S. and around the world.”

The controlled-implosion of the 23-story hotel and its adjacent six-story parking structure took place in a matter of seconds on the morning of Sunday, April 12th, clearing the site for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, which will feature 228 private residences in the South Tower and 70 private residences, 28 turnkey hotel collection residences, and what is destined to be the brand’s new North America flagship hotel with 121 keys in the North Tower.

The existing structure came down in a controlled manner as part of a carefully orchestrated demolition process that required nearly two years of planning and coordination among specialized experts – including The BG Group LLC, Controlled Demolition Inc., and Moss Construction – working in collaboration with the City of Miami.

See PROFILEmiami video coverage of the implosion: