Brightline 'V' Columns In Place at MiamiCentral

(Press Release) _ The first five signature V Columns are in place along the East elevation of MiamiCentral, as the expansive downtown development featuring retail, offices, residences and the Brightline train service, continues to take shape in Downtown Miami. These V Columns are first being constructed of steel and then will be encased by precast concrete. 

There are a total of 29 major V columns that will be installed, each of these are 70 feet tall. The steel for each one weighs 8,000 pounds. The work is being managed by Suffolk Construction, the contractor for MiamiCentral.

Next month, once all the steel V Columns are constructed, they will be encased in concrete panels. Gate Precast of Kissimmee, Florida, has formed approximately 600 V-shaped precast concrete panels for the V Columns.

“The formation of the V Columns at MiamiCentral is an intricate two-part process. We have worked closely with Suffolk Construction, ADF International and Gate Precast to ensure that they will look spectacular when finished,” said Scott Sanders, executive vice president of development and construction for Brightline.

The V Columns provide a defining architectural element to all three of Brightline’s South Florida stations, which have been designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), one of the largest and most influential architecture, interior design, engineering, and urban planning firms in the world, in association with Zyscovich Architects, an integrated urban design, architecture, and interior design firm headquartered in downtown Miami. 

“This is one of the most complex components of MiamiCentral and is particularly important to the overall design and vision of the project.  With the use of virtual design and construction, as well as a highly collaborative effort with Gate Precast, we developed a thoughtful plan to ensure a smooth execution in the field.  It’s been impressive to see it come together,” said Suffolk’s Vice President of Operations John Planz.

MiamiCentral encompasses nearly three million square feet and includes two mixed-use sites: a nine-acre development in downtown Miami just east of the Miami-Dade County Hall, and 3 MiamiCentral, a two-acre site in Historic Overtown. MiamiCentral will include retail, offices, residences, the Brightline train service and ample parking, while serving as a connector between Brightline’s passengers and Miami’s existing public transport systems. 3 MiamiCentral will also feature retail, offices and parking.

At MiamiCentral, the Brightline train platform will be elevated to align with existing public transportation systems. This bold and innovative design allows thru-streets to remain open to traffic and creates an atmosphere of walkability as well as a landmark terminal.

Construction on Brightline’s stations and trains is progressing for a scheduled service launch in mid-2017. The first Brightline trainset was recently completed by Siemens and arrived in West Palm Beach.  Brightline’s train stations in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach have been topped off and interior outfitting work is well underway. For more information, visit www.gobrightline.com.