Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Well said...

For 12 long years Roberto Espejo served as the project manager for the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts. Mr. Espejo moved from New Haven, CT-based Cesar Pelli Associates to Miami to oversee design and construction on a project that would take over TWELVE LONG YEARS. It's hard to believe it took that long to build this magnificent structure. During that time he also taught architecture at the University of Miami. He considers this a "BC-AD" kind of moment in Miami's cultural arts. In a December 28th interview in Miami Today he is quoted as saying:

"It's almost like Miami is going to be responsible for hosting the planet to come."

He goes on to say that the "world of architecture and architects are all starting to associate quality with Miami when it comes to these types of buildings."

If only developers are encouraged to push the envelope and are allowed to set new heights in downtown Miami. Government should take the initiative to encourage developers to deliver architecture that will set Miami apart from the rest of the world-- and settle for nothing less. Both mayors and commissions should make it their sacred duty to all of us to insure Miami has a permanent place on the world map for the world's tallest buildings and those with the most exciting, spirit-lifting, hope-inducing designs. They can do this by creating less bureaucracy by becoming an enabler to the permitting process, including petitioning the FAA en masse to cut us some slack regarding height restrictions. MVB would like to see Biscayne Boulevard become known as the "Boulevard of the Giants."

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