KM/Plaza, one of South Florida’s leading full-service general contractors and construction managers, known for such prestigious projects as The W Hotel South Beach, the 67-story Marquis and Canyon Ranch North Tower, announced it is officially changing its name to Plaza Construction Group Florida, LLC, and has secured two new projects exceeding $100 million.
Founder Brad Meltzer, president of Plaza Construction Group Florida, LLC, will continue to lead Plaza’s Southeast Regional operation, as he has done for the past eight years. New York City-headquartered Plaza Construction is prominently ranked among Engineering News-Record’s 2012 “Top 100 Professional Service Firms.”
In making the announcement, Meltzer added that Plaza has been awarded a contract for The Perry South Beach Hotel, Resort, Spa and Condominiums, a premier $100 million beachfront redevelopment by The LeFrak Organization, Starwood Capital Group and Invesco Ltd. Upon its completion in late 2013, the 17-story, 294,000-square-foot transformation will be re-branded and will offer 345 lavish guest rooms and 259 condominium residences. HKS, Miami, serves as architect for the project except for restoration of the existing façade by Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates Inc., Coral Gables.
Meltzer also announced that Plaza commenced work on the Dadeland Mall Kendall Wing expansion, under its contract with Simon Property Group, Indianapolis. Having first demolished 94,000 square feet of existing space, Plaza is now constructing a new two-story, 102,000-square-foot mixed-use, retail and restaurant expansion, and is renovating 47,227 square feet of mall space. Plaza’s scope of work also includes reconstructing the mall’s front entry, installing new escalators, and connecting bridge walkways with unique cantilevered features. Plaza is also adding two-levels totaling 98,816 square feet atop an existing three-level garage and enhancing 172,352 square feet of outdoor parking, fountains and ancillary space. Designed by 505 Design, Boulder, Colo., and CCA Design Architecture, Miami, the expansion and modernization project is slated for completion in March 2013.
“The change in our name is an expression of our full integration into the Plaza Construction organization, while we maintain and enhance our exceptional commitment to the South Florida market and our clients,” said Meltzer. “For nearly a decade, our relationship with Plaza Construction has allowed us to leverage our resources and talent, and to build market momentum by delivering the highest quality construction and service. Moving forward as Plaza Construction Group Florida, LLC, we will continue to focus on serving our clients second to none.”
During the recent economic downturn, Plaza strategically took a series of specific measures to leverage its resources, human capital, relationships, technological platform and national outreach in order to enhance its capabilities and sharpen its readiness to offer outstanding services when the market began to recover. That strategy has resulted in a significant uptick in new business in all eight market segments that Plaza serves, namely: Commercial/Mixed-Use; 2) Retail; 3) Hospitality/Residential; 4) Infrastructure/Transportation; 5) Healthcare; 6) Interiors; 7) Education; and 8) Government/Cultural. With numerous new construction jobs now coming on line and more on the drawing board, South Florida is an integral component of Plaza’s national platform and a distinct profit center. The name change is part of a national initiative to provide Plaza Construction as a unified, connected, full-service entity operating coast to coast.
In addition to New York and Florida, Plaza operates offices in Los Angeles, Houston, Newark, NJ, and most recently Washington, DC, an office which opened in June 2010 to serve the entire greater metro District of Columbia area.
“As the economy improves, and new business opportunities arise, our national platform will make it easier for existing and potential clients to become aware of all our capabilities and various service lines,” said Richard Wood, President of Plaza Construction. “Consolidating KM/Plaza under the Plaza umbrella was essential to achieving that end.”
About Plaza Construction
Established in 1986, and headquartered in New York City, Plaza Construction www.plazaconstruction.com provides construction management, general contracting, and project consulting services nationally with offices located in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Washington, DC, and Newark, NJ, Building Value with Vision. Over the past five years, Plaza has posted average revenues approaching $1 billion annually, and as an industry leader in sustainability, Plaza has executed over $2.3 billion of LEED rated projects since 2005. Plaza Construction Group Florida, LLC, bases its operations from 120 NE 27th Street, Suite 600, Miami, FL, phone 786-693-8700.
