Una Residences Receives ENR Southeast Award of Merit

The distinctive, sculptural Una Residences, set on the edge of Miami’s Biscayne Bay, received an Award of Merit from Engineering News-Record’s Southeast regional awards.

Faced with challenging subsurface conditions, high water table, and hurricane wind demands, DeSimone’s structural engineers designed an advanced, reinforced concrete structure that features creative slab edge design, outrigger trusses, walking columns, multiple cantilevers, a complex lateral system, and integrates one of the deepest below-grade parking structures in South Florida.

One of its biggest structural design challenges is Una’s visually dramatic, load-bearing cantilever system. As the tower rises, it begins expanding incrementally westward, beyond the site footprint through series of cantilevered floorplates, offering panoramic views at the higher floors. Achieved through an innovative system of reinforced concrete transfer elements and sloped columns, the cantilever becomes most pronounced at the 15th floor, reaching its maximum projection of 33 feet at the 19th floor.

Glass fiber reinforced concrete slab edge detailing was fully integrated with the structure, ensuring hurricane resilience and seamless expression.

DeSimone Team: Managing Principal Luis Ramirez, PE, Associate Marc Samuel, SE

Developer: OKO Group, Cain International

Architect: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architects, Revuelta

MEP: HNGS Consulting Engineers

Civil: VSN Engineering

GC: Civic Construction, Ant Yappi