How the Arsht Center ignited an era of urban transformation in Miami

The Arsht Center is the engine of arts-based economic development and urban renewal in downtown Miami, transforming an underserved area on historic Biscayne Boulevard into a thriving mixed-use arts and entertainment district. One of the largest performing arts complexes in the world, the Arsht Center houses several acclaimed resident companies, including Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony, and America’s Orchestral Academy. The Arsht Center’s 2,480-seat Ziff Ballet Opera House and 2,200-seat Knight Concert Hall are connected by Thomson Plaza for the Arts, an outdoor public gathering space. The complex also includes the Carnival Studio Theater, an intimate venue for experimental productions.

A welcoming public space strengthens Miami’s urban fabric  

Situated on opposite sides of Biscayne Boulevard, the Ziff Ballet Opera House and Knight Concert Hall have multiple access points that extend the Arsht Center deeper into the community and foster connection with the surrounding neighborhoods. The buildings are united by a grand oval-shaped public plaza that stretches across Biscayne Boulevard. A popular gathering space with outdoor performances and events, the plaza is an inviting oasis with lush garden terraces, fountains, shade trees, and greenery. In the Plaza’s southwest corner, a 1929 Sears department store tower is preserved. This historic tower is Miami’s earliest expression of Art Deco, now home to a popular café.

Reflecting the unique beauty of an extraordinary city 

The architectural language of the Ziff Ballet Opera House and Knight Concert Hall is a harmonious marriage of opaque Sardinian granite with luminescent glass and metal. These striking iconographic forms combine the two buildings into a single sculptural element that appears dynamic from each vantage point. Large glass and steel curtain walls mark the entrances and lobbies, bringing in abundant natural light and creating an uplifting sense of lightness.

“The Arsht Center rises from Miami’s flat landscape, reflecting the region’s extraordinary light and appearing as a white Cubist outcropping against the horizon.” — Mitchell A. Hirsch, AIA, LEED AP 

A celebration of Miami’s exuberant culture 

Knight Concert Hall is a magical venue for experiencing live music. In developing the design, the team focused on creating sightlines that offer an inspiring experience from every seat in the house and instill a welcoming sense of intimacy and warmth. An innovative adjustable acoustic canopy with rings of light swirl above the stage, a breathtaking spectacle works in tandem with the side reverberation chambers to deliver extraordinary sound.