Workforce HousingMiami, USA

The Mia Workforce Housing is located in the Normandy Isle district in Miami Beach. The Design Review Board approved it on October 22, and when completed, it will include 60 studio apartments organized on three floors and retail and parking on the ground floor. The pandemic has exacerbated a dire need for workforce housing in Miami-Dade County. Mia will be the first project targeting dwellers with an income between 60% and 140% of the area’s median income. The project is targeted to be LEED Gold Certified. In terms of design, the ground floor returns the retail liner from the street, expanding the walkways to engage street life while hiding the car parking spaces behind. Ample bicycle parking further invites engagement, and the small-scale shops aim to fulfill the neighborhood’s needs. The architectural aesthetic is industrial recalling, containerized structures; this is emphasized using pain by ted metal cladding. On the upper levels, the repetitive nature of the units is broken in the façade by staggering the exterior balconies. The industrial aesthetic is carried through but with a different wall finish. The roof has a terrace for the dwellers to use. The vibrant color scheme of the catwalks and retail buildings adds a local flair to the architectural ensemble, recalling Miami Beach residential buildings and motels of the 50s.