Damac Unveils Condominium Project Designed by Hadid Architects at the Former Surfside Collapse Site

Damac Properties Submits Plans for Luxury Condo Building on Surfside Collapse Site
Dubai-based developer Damac Properties, which acquired the Surfside collapse site last year, has recently unveiled its plans to construct a prestigious oceanfront condominium building on the property. The project, designed by the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, aims to create a 12-story boutique building featuring 57 units on the expansive 1.8-acre land at 8777 Collins Avenue, according to a company press release.
Approximately one year after the tragic incident that claimed the lives of 98 individuals in the Champlain Towers South collapse on June 24, 2021, Damac Properties completed the purchase of the site for $120 million. The esteemed architectural firm, Zaha Hadid Architects, has conceptualized two distinctive designs for the building, each accommodating slight variations per Surfside’s town code interpretations. Renderings depict one configuration where the southern side of the project is cleverly stepped back, resembling the elegant tiers of a wedding cake. The other design showcases a more streamlined structure without the stepped-back approach.
In both designs, the building presents itself as a harmonious composition of interconnected elements, creating an illusion of two separate structures. The units within the condominium are anticipated to span from 4,000 to 15,000 square feet, offering luxurious living spaces. The development will boast a stunning 100-foot-long rooftop pool and exceptional amenities. Initially intended to bear the Cavalli brand, Damac is now considering collaboration with another prestigious luxury brand as it evaluates the profile of its target market.
According to Niall McLoughlin, the Senior Vice President of Communications for Damac International, the company is contemplating a sales launch either later this year or in 2024. Discussions with prominent brokerages are underway to spearhead the sales and marketing efforts for the condominiums. While Damac has not disclosed specific unit prices, McLoughlin expressed the developer’s commitment to delivering “the most luxurious project ever to Surfside.” It is worth mentioning that the neighboring Four Seasons Residences at the Surf Club currently holds the record for the highest per-square-foot price for condos in Miami-Dade County.

This project marks Zaha Hadid Architects’ second major endeavor in South Florida, following the successful completion of One Thousand Museum, a luxury condo tower in downtown Miami, in 2019. Sadly, Zaha Hadid passed away in Miami Beach in 2016 while the construction of the One Thousand Museum was still underway.
Damac’s filing comes amid ongoing discussions between the victims’ families, who advocate for a memorial on the collapse site rather than on adjacent property. Surfside officials have designated a section of 88th Street, directly north of the former Champlain Towers South, as the proposed memorial location. Damac emerged as the sole bidder for the site. In May of last year, former Judge Michael Hanzman approved a landmark settlement exceeding $1 billion in a class-action lawsuit related to the collapse. Hanzman subsequently joined Bilzin Sumberg as senior counsel earlier this year.