Gómez Platero Proposes Four Irregular Towers for Miami Waterfront Site

Uruguayan architecture studio Gómez Platero has unveiled a proposal for a large mixed-use development on the Miami waterfront, occupying the former site of the historic Miami Herald building. The project, named Miami Bay Towers, features four irregularly shaped skyscrapers arranged on a rectangular plot between Highway A1A and the Venetian Causeway.

The proposal was first reported by architecture media Dezeen and has not yet been presented as a formal application to the city. The studio is known for projects across Latin America, including residential, hospitality and cultural buildings. The Miami Bay Towers scheme represents one of the firm’s most high-profile ventures into the United States market.

The Design and Site Strategy

The four towers are described as “irregularly shaped,” a deliberate departure from the rectilinear forms common in much of Miami’s recent skyline. The arrangement is meant to respond to the site’s geometry and its dual exposure to the bay and the causeway. While no detailed floor plans or height figures have been released, the massing appears to step in scale to allow views and light penetration.

The development is intended to be mixed-use, combining residential units, commercial space, and public amenities. The waterfront edge is likely to include pedestrian connections and green space, though exact design details remain unpublished. The project would replace a surface parking lot that currently occupies the site after the Miami Herald building was demolished in 2018.

Site History and Context

The parcel at 1 Herald Plaza was the home of the Miami Herald newspaper from 1963 until 2013, when the paper moved to a smaller office in Doral. The iconic building, designed by architect Charles Luckman, was considered a landmark of mid-century modernism but was demolished in 2018 despite preservation efforts. The site has since been the subject of several redevelopment concepts, including earlier proposals for a large hotel and condominium complex.

The location is highly visible, sitting at the entrance to the Venetian Causeway and adjacent to the MacArthur Causeway, making it a gateway site for visitors arriving from Miami Beach. Any development on the parcel will be reviewed by the city’s planning department and must comply with the Miami 21 zoning code, which regulates height, density, and waterfront access.

What This Means for Miami’s Waterfront

The Miami Bay Towers proposal reopens a long-running debate about the future of the city’s downtown waterfront. The site is one of the last large undeveloped parcels along Biscayne Bay in the central business district, and its redevelopment has been a topic of interest among architects, planners, and preservationists.

For the architecture community, the project offers a chance to see how a Latin American firm interprets the Miami high-rise typology. Gómez Platero’s work often emphasizes sculptural form and integration with landscape, which could set a different tone from the glass towers prevalent in the Brickell area. The irregular shapes may also allow for more varied floor plans and outdoor terraces.

Key Facts

The proposal is still in its early conceptual phase. No developer has been publicly named, and the studio has not released a timeline for design development or permitting. The project will need to secure approvals from the City of Miami Planning Department and may face scrutiny from preservation groups, given the site’s history.

Architects and urbanists interested in the future of Miami’s waterfront should watch for formal submissions to the city’s Urban Development Review Board, which typically publishes meeting agendas and staff reports. The design may also evolve as Gómez Platero engages with local stakeholders and regulatory guidelines.

Source: Dezeen, “Gómez Platero proposes four skyscrapers at former site of the Miami Herald,” https://www.dezeen.com/2026/07/24/gomez-platero-miami-bay-towers-proposal/