In a controlled implosion on Sunday, 12 April 2026, the former 23-story Mandarin Oriental, Miami was demolished to make way for a new twin high-rise mixed-use development.
Located on Brickell Key in Miami, the original hotel opened 25 years ago on the man-made island at the mouth of the Miami River, was brought down in less than 20 seconds in what officials described as Miami’s largest implosion in more than a decade.
The demolition clears the site for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, an ultra-luxury hotel and residential project being developed by Swire Properties. The new development is expected to be completed in 2030, with initial groundbreaking anticipated later this year.
According to the developer, the implosion was selected as the most efficient and least disruptive demolition strategy, despite the technical complexity of executing such an operation on an island site. Planning for the demolition reportedly took more than two years, with all hazardous materials removed in advance.
The replacement of a legacy hospitality asset with a new mixed-use complex reflects the city’s continued evolution toward higher-density luxury residential and hospitality development along its urban shoreline. Debris clearance is expected to continue for approximately six months, after which vertical construction on the next phase of Brickell Key’s skyline is set to begin.
Read more at CBS News.