Architect Behind World’s Tallest Tower Aims To Build New Miami Landmark

The tower aims to become a new architectural landmark in Miami, creating a new wave of building design that stands apart from the area’s Art Deco style roots, as showcased in new images of the skyscraper that were first shared with Newsweek. 

Designed by Gill, who co-founded the Chicago-based firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), Una Residences is positioned in South Brickell, an area described by the firm as the "1970s birthplace of modern high-rise living in Miami." Brickell Avenue—named for early Miami founders William and Mary Brickell—is often referred to by insiders as the city’s "Park Avenue," known for its canopy of ancient oaks, walkable streets, and proximity to finance, dining, retail, and cultural venues. 

The architectural firm says that the new tower set along Biscayne Bay is "an iconic new vision that seeks to reinvent South Brickell," placing a contemporary stamp on one of Miami’s most-established corridors. 

For Gill, the inspiration behind Una began with its unique waterfront site. He told Newsweek that the design was driven by "the fluidity or organic softness of the bay itself." He added that, with the development offering expansive water views, "what really drove the design was capturing those views." 

Rather than orienting the building broadside to the bay—a common instinct for waterfront towers—Gill said the team made a deliberate decision to turn the building perpendicular to the water. "If you look at the building, you'll notice that it's perpendicular to the water," he added. "The instinct is often to turn one of the broadsides of a building towards the water. But when you do that, you end up with half the building or so not having any water views." 

By rotating the tower and flaring its plan toward the rear, Gill said the design allows residents deeper within the building to maintain direct views of the bay. "If I just show you the tip of the building, the two sides are looking obliquely," he added. "But if I flare it, then everyone in the second and third row now has direct views toward the water." 

Gill described the approach as being "really about creating value through the form of the building," emphasizing that the goal was equity in access to the waterfront. "We didn't want there to be a back to this building," he said. "We wanted everyone to have equitable access to the bay." 

That philosophy translated into a form Gill likened to a vessel in motion. The tower, he said, is "kind of like a boat…making its way through the waves," drawing from Miami’s nautical heritage while avoiding direct references to the city’s Art Deco past. "We wanted to divorce it from the more Art Deco expression of some of the buildings that we have as neighbors," Gill added, noting that the site’s location further down Biscayne Boulevard allowed more freedom of expression. 

Material choices reinforce that maritime identity. Una features a glass-fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) façade with a highly finished silver glaze. Gill said the surface was intended to emphasize both light and motion, evoking the language of yachts and other watercraft. Inside, details were inspired by "the beautiful wooden crafts on the water," influencing elements in the lobby and interior design. 

Una takes inspiration from classic yacht design, with a sweeping curved silhouette, floor-to-ceiling windows, and landscaped gardens by Enzo Enea. Amenities include a spa and gym envisioned by the chairman of Aman, private boat slips, and direct access to Coconut Grove, downtown Miami, Miami International Airport, and the beaches of Key Biscayne, according to the tower’s website. 

Gill said the building’s most-distinctive feature is its profile. "The silhouette is immediately identifiable as Una," he added. "So, from a distance, you could spot that building separate from everything else immediately." He also highlighted the fluid balconies that taper, wrap, and fold back into the building, giving the façade a feathered, aerodynamic texture that responds to sunlight and enhances the resident experience. 

Asked whether he hoped Una could become a new Miami landmark, Gill said that ambition was built into the brief. "Certainly, that was part of the expectation from our client that we would deliver something of that stature for them," he added. "I do think, within the context of Miami, it does set itself apart." 

For Gill, Una reflects a broader shift underway in the city. With international architects increasingly leaving their mark, he said Miami’s architectural standards are rising, with several designs "that have stepped out of the traditional and are moving towards something a little more adventurous," the architect noted. 

"I think there is a new wave in Miami," Gill said—one that Una Residences is designed to help define. 

Written by Soo Kim

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