Miami Tower (Bank of America Tower)

The Miami Tower is a landmark office skyscraper in downtown Miami, Florida, in the United States. It was built for CenTrust Bank and opened in 1987, and it was earlier known as the CenTrust Tower and later as the Bank of America Tower. It is 625 feet, or 191 metres, tall and has 47 floors according to Wikipedia.

It was designed by the architecture firm Pei Cobb Freed and Partners, founded by I. M. Pei. People know it for its three glass tiers that step back toward the top, and for its elaborate lighting at night. In 2012 it was named by the architects' group AIA Florida as one of 'Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places'.

How was it built?

Planning began in February 1980, and the ten-storey parking garage was finished in 1983. The tower itself began construction a year later and is built over the garage, using its air rights. In August 1984, a five-alarm fire broke out on the ninth floor, delaying work for several weeks. Later the foundation settled unevenly by several inches to one side, which put the elevator rails out of line and pushed the opening to February 1987.

Lights and movie fame

The tower is known for its night-time light show: the colours change for holidays and events. It was lit for the first time on 15 December 1985 in the aqua colour of the Miami Dolphins football team. The building has appeared in the TV show Miami Vice, in the opening credits of its third season, and in the 1986 film Flight of the Navigator. It once held the only elevated metro station inside a skyscraper, Knight Center station.

On the globe

The model shows a faceted blue-glass tower that steps back into a crown. Look for the three glass tiers at the top.