A sports-anchored entertainment district in downtown Orlando, whose concept can be traced to 2011, appears finally to be moving toward a possible starting date late this year.
SED Development LLC and the Orlando Magic pro basketball team in Florida yesterday identified two development partners for a sports and entertainment district to be located on 8.43 acres between the city-owned Amway Center (where the Magic plays) and the Federal Building and Courthouse.
The Magic is owned by the DeVos family, which is spearheading this project, whose cost is expected to exceed $500 million. The development team now includes JMA Ventures and Machete Group. JMA’s previous projects include Downtown Commons, a 1-million-sf mixed-use development adjacent to Golden 1 Center, where the Sacramento Kings basketball team plays. Machete, which developed the Amway Center, is most recently known for its development of Chase Center arena and the surrounding Thrive City mixed-use district in San Francisco.
SED and the Magic did not disclose the start date for the entertainment district in Orlando, although officials from SED have stated previously that construction could begin in late 2023, with a mid-2025 completion. The design-build team has not been revealed yet, either, but news reports have cited the firm Baker Barrios as the district’s architect and master planner.
One of several entertainment districts underway Florida
The district, state SED and the Magic, will comprise 260 hotel rooms, 16,000 sf of meeting and conference space, 270 housing units, 200,000 sf of office space within an 18-story tower, 125,000 sf of retail space, a 3,500-seat event space, a town square, and 1,100 parking spaces.
The development of a downtown sports and entertainment district has been under discussion in Orlando since 2011, according to news reports. A January 14, 2014 staff report to the city’s Municipal Planning Board stated a project plan that was similar to what’s being proposed today, with some variations: for example, the project a decade ago would have had 100,000 sf of office space and 64,000 sf of retail. On the other hand, the older plan called for 40,000 sf of meeting/conference space.
Over the past decade, the parking garages and Police Department building on the land to be redeveloped have been demolished.
The Orlando project is one of several entertainment districts that are in various stages of development in Florida. Other districts have been proposed or are underway in Tampa Bay, Pompano Beach, Miami, and Gainesville.
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
New website highlights government tax incentives for large commercial buildings
Energy Retrofit Group (ERG), the subsidiary of 40-year-old, award-winning Adache Group Architects, Inc., has announced the creation of their new energy conservation web site: www.energy-rg.com.
| Aug 11, 2010
Gensler, HOK, HDR among the nation's leading reconstruction design firms, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 100 Reconstruction Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
The Joule Hotel
Dallas, Texas
The Joule Hotel in Dallas, designed by local firm Coburn & Smith, was constructed in 1927 as the Dallas National Bank Building. Originally one of the finest examples of gothic revival architecture in Texas, it had had most of its gothic elements removed over the years after being converted into an office building and later abandoned. What was left had fallen into disrepair.
| Aug 11, 2010
AECOM, WATG top BD+C's ranking of the nation's 75 largest hotel design firms
A ranking of the Top 75 Hotel Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
ASHRAE introduces building energy label prototype
Most of us know the fuel efficiency of our cars, but what about our buildings? ASHRAE is working to change that, moving one step closer today to introducing its building energy labeling program with release of a prototype label at its 2009 Annual Conference in Louisville, Ky.
| Aug 11, 2010
Urban Land Institute honors five 'outstanding' developments in Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Five outstanding developments have been selected as winners of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) 2009 Awards for Excellence: Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) competition. This year, the competition also included the announcement of two special award winners. The Awards for Excellence competition is widely regarded as the land use industry’s most prestigious recognition program.
| Aug 11, 2010
Cannon Design’s European-inspired Sparkling Hill Resort breaks ground
Cannon Design, a leading international architectural, engineering and planning firm, is pleased to announce that the firm’s Sparkling Hill Resort and Wellness Hotel in Vernon, BC, has broken ground.
| Aug 11, 2010
10 tips for mitigating influenza in buildings
Adopting simple, common-sense measures and proper maintenance protocols can help mitigate the spread of influenza in buildings. In addition, there are system upgrades that can be performed to further mitigate risks. Trane Commercial Systems offers 10 tips to consider during the cold and flu season.
| Aug 11, 2010
Skanska, Turner most active in U.S. hotel construction, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 50 Hotel Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
AECOM, Arup, Gensler most active in commercial building design, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 100 Commercial Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
