Following votes of approval from both Miami councilors and members of the public, the city is set to host a new 304 m (1000 ft) high observation tower. According to the developers, SkyRise Miami will be the tallest tower in Florida when completed, and will host attractions and amusements which include bungee jumping, a cinema, and a free-fall ride.
Practical details on the tower are relatively thin on the ground at this point, but the developers of SkyRise Miami say the building will be relatively energy-efficient and that they will be aiming for LEED Gold Certification. It's also claimed that the tower could create up to 17,000 jobs once it's opened.
SkyRise Miami will contain a private club, three observation decks, a nightclub and ballroom, and a restaurant. The tower also features a terrifying-sounding attraction called SkyRise Drop, that's likened to base-jumping with a bungee rope. Should you somehow survive that, there's also a "flying theater" that's similar to Disney's Soaring theater, and a plunging ride that's aimed at recreating the experience of free-falling out of an airplane.
"We are projecting 3.2 million visitors a year," says developer Jeff Berkowitz. "It’s going to be iconic. It’s going to be the Miami Eiffel tower. We have very significant public support for it."
The tower will be located in downtown Miami and is estimated to cost US$430 million. Construction is due to begin later this year and completed by mid-2017.
Source: Skyrise Miami
