Metropolitan Miami (development) facts for kids
Metropolitan Miami is a large group of buildings in Downtown Miami, Florida. It includes tall skyscrapers and a place for shops and fun activities. This big project has different types of buildings all in one spot.
The first part of Metropolitan Miami was finished in 2008. This was Met 1, a tall building with apartments that people own. After that, Met 2 was completed in 2010. Met 2 includes the Wells Fargo Center and the JW Marriott Marquis Miami hotel. The third part, Met 3 and Met Square, was finished in 2014.
Contents
Discovering Ancient History
The area where Met Square is located had plans for a movie theater and a hotel. But during digging, amazing old things were found! These were Tequesta Indian ruins, which are remains from the Tequesta people. They are about 2,000 years old.
Tequesta Circles and Their Meaning
Workers found more than eight large circles carved into the ground. These circles are thought to be where Tequesta Indian homes once stood. Experts believe this was part of a very large Tequesta Indian village. It might have been one of the biggest in North America.
Protecting the Past
Because of these important discoveries, the Met Square site is being considered for special protection. It might become a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical place in the United States. It could even get a UNESCO designation, which protects important sites worldwide.
At first, people were unsure what would happen to the Met Square project. But then, different groups worked together. These groups included the builders, archaeologists, and government officials. They made a special agreement to protect parts of the site. They decided to build around the ruins. They even planned to add a glass floor so people could see the ruins below. The idea was to make it a museum. Not everyone was happy with this plan, but it was a big step in protecting history.
Tall Buildings in Miami
Met 3 was planned to be one of the tallest buildings in Miami. It was also going to be one of the tallest homes south of New York City. It was designed to be about 828 feet (252 meters) tall. This would have made it taller than the Four Seasons Hotel Miami. However, the plan for this very tall design was changed. This happened because of an economic problem called the subprime mortgage crisis.
The Wells Fargo Center is currently one of the tallest buildings in Miami. It stands about 647 feet (197 meters) tall.
Who Built It?
This big project got a lot of attention because of NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. He helped create a company called The O'Neal Group. They worked with M.D.M. Development Group to build Metropolitan Miami.
The land where Metropolitan Miami stands used to be a parking lot. Before that, the Royal Palm Hotel was there until it was taken down in 1930.
The design for Metropolitan Miami was created by an architecture company. This company is called Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates, Inc. - NBWW. It is based in Coral Gables.
Gallery
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Met 1 being built in March 2007
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Met 1 seen from across the Miami River
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Met 2's Wells Fargo Center almost finished
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The finished Wells Fargo Center in 2011
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The Met 3 site used as a parking lot in February 2011
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