Watch this video of the implosion of 1955 boxy addition to the Versailles Hotel in Miami Beach. The addition was imploded, but the original Versailles structure, built in 1940, was retained. The partial demolition was approved by Miami Beach’s Historic Preservation Board last year.
Faena will replace the demolished structure with the 16-story Faena Versailles Contemporary, a 45-unit condominium tower. The original hotel is to be called Faena Versailles Classic. The 141 hotel rooms will be rebuilt/reconfigured/renovated into 22 condominium units.
Recall that Faena is said to have paid $100 million for this property in 2013 to build Faena District Miami Beach at Collins Avenue and 34th Street. This planned (not so “planned” no, I’d say) district is to span five city blocks, from the beach to the bay, and will include more than a million gross square feet, including the Versailles Hotel.