One Flagler, a 25-story waterfront office and retail building, opens in West Palm Beach, Fla.
This spring, One Flagler, a waterfront office building with retail space and a public green, opened in West Palm Beach, Fla.
With design by SOM, the 25-story, 285,000-sf building’s base complements the nearby historic Beaux-Arts structure of the First Church of Christ, Scientist. The white, trellis-like frame draws inspiration from Florida’s tropical modernism.
Made of burnished, white concrete, the frame comprises a series of intersecting, staggered volumes, creating terraces at three levels. With ocean views, the three landscaped terraces include a 19,000-sf terrace atop the podium alongside a fitness center and conference area. Façade details, such as gaps between the frame’s horizontal and vertical elements and a dark metal trim around deep-set windows, create textural definition.
A porte cochère drop-off and a two-story lobby serve as the entry. The first floors of One Flagler include retail, a restaurant, and a new reading room for the church. On the building’s lower levels, planted loggias cover the parking garage and serve as a green backdrop for the church. Above, offices offer a variety of floor plates—ranging from larger, open workspaces on levels 8 through 14 to midsize floors from levels 15 to 19 and boutique offices at the top.
SOM reimagined the church lawn as a new park for neighborhood events such as flea markets and art shows. Centered on an old banyan tree, the park’s design features benches, planters, and a reflecting pool.
One Flagler’s high-performance façade and insulated glazing protect the deeply recessed windows from direct sunlight and thermal energy while still allowing natural light. The LEED Gold building uses energy-efficient mechanical systems and an air system that brings fresh air inside.
Design on the project began in 2016, construction in 2021.
On the project team: Related Ross (owner), Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) (architect), Vanderweil Engineers (MEP engineer), Thornton Tomasetti (structural engineer), Kimley-Horn (civil engineer), SOM and Design Studio Boca (landscape architect), Coastal Construction (general contractor).
