A Cultural Landmark in Downtown Miami

Spanning 570,000 square feet, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts is a world-class cultural hub set on a heavily urbanized site in downtown Miami.

The venue includes the 2,400-seat Ziff Ballet Opera House and the 2,200-seat Knight Concert Hall, offering four acres of premier performance space that serves as a cornerstone for Miami’s arts community.

Project Challenges

Initially plagued by design and construction difficulties, the project required a major restructuring to address cost overruns and schedule setbacks. Ron Austin was brought on as Project Director, developing a strategic framework to renegotiate project parameters, reallocate risks, and establish a clear path forward.

Key Achievements

• Successfully restructured the project, resolving complex design and construction issues
• Redefined cost and time parameters, ensuring financial and operational feasibility
• Facilitated the largest public-private partnership in Miami-Dade County at the time, with a final budget of $480 million

Outcome

Through expert project leadership and negotiation, the Adrienne Arsht Center was successfully completed, establishing itself as a premier cultural destination in Miami and a model for large-scale public-private partnerships.