Inside Miami’s New Power Offices: How the Ultra-Wealthy Are Reshaping the Workplace
- May 7
- 3 min read
Miami’s rise as a global hub for wealth is reshaping more than its residential market. As billionaires, family offices, and global executives relocate to neighborhoods like Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and South of Fifth, a parallel shift is underway in where and how they work.
A growing number of tenants are bypassing traditional office hubs like Brickell and Downtown in favor of boutique, Class A offices embedded within residential enclaves, prioritizing proximity, privacy, and lifestyle. Rather than committing to large footprints in centralized towers, these firms are opting for smaller, highly curated environments designed around the needs of C-suite leadership, often within walking distance or a short drive from home.
We spoke with Amanda Hertzler, Interior Design Principal, and Jorge Bernal, Managing Principal, of Perkins&Will’s Miami studio to share their perspectives on this shift.
“Executives are thinking differently about where they want to spend their time,” Hertzler said. “We’re seeing a move toward spaces that offer convenience, discretion, and a more tailored experience, rather than scale.”
That shift is being accelerated by pricing pressure in traditional office markets.
“Rents in Brickell have pushed past $200 per square foot, forcing companies to rethink location,” Bernal said. “At the same time, executives want to be closer to where they live and where their families are, especially near schools and established residential neighborhoods.”
That dynamic is clearly visible at the former Bacardi building at 2701 South Le Jeune Road, where Perkins&Will’s Miami studio redesigned the lobby interiors to reposition the property for today’s tenant. Rather than ground-up development, the project reflects a targeted, design-led upgrade, elevating the arrival experience and common areas to align with the expectations of firms seeking high-quality space outside of Brickell. It’s a direct response to both rising rents and shifting lifestyle priorities, where location, design, and ease of access now carry as much weight as square footage.
In Coconut Grove, that same demand has driven the full lease-up of The Canopy, a 33,000-square-foot office building developed by Comras Company and now home to firms including Trinity Investments and ACORE Capital.
Originally a retail and fitness property, it has been transformed into a boutique office destination with concierge services, lounge-style spaces, and a private rooftop terrace.
“We saw a clear opportunity to reposition this property into a Class-A office environment that aligns with how companies want to operate today, walkable, amenitized, and close to where decision-makers live,” says Michael Comras, Founder and CEO of Comras Company.
“Companies no longer want their teams commuting 45 minutes each way. They want community, convenience, and quality. The Canopy delivers that.”
On Miami Beach, UNO South Pointe is evolving in parallel. Following a full renovation, the building is planning a 10,000-square-foot penthouse office, set to deliver in 2027, with unobstructed 360-degree views of the ocean and skyline.
“There is clear and urgent demand for Class-A office space in South of Fifth—an area with one of the highest concentrations of C-suite executives in Miami, combined with beachfront proximity and the city’s best dining, all within walking distance,” said Cyril Bijaoui of Longstead Real Estate at the Corcoran Group, who leads leasing for UNO. “This renovation and the forthcoming penthouse deliver a truly best-in-class product for the most discerning tenants.”
UNO Tenants including Kerzner International and multiple private investment firms underscore the demand for offices that combine discretion, design, and location.
At the same time, the function of the office itself is evolving. “The office is no longer just a place to work, it’s a place to connect,” Hertzler said. In the hybrid era, workplaces are being reimagined around collaboration and flexibility, with lounge environments, smaller meeting spaces, and hospitality-driven amenities replacing traditional layouts. “There’s a real focus on creating spaces people choose to come to. The office has to offer something you can’t get at home.”
Across Miami, a consistent pattern is emerging. Offices are no longer separate from daily life, they are extensions of it. As more global capital flows into the city, the line between where people live and work continues to blur, with proximity, design, and lifestyle now driving leasing decisions as much as location.