Designed in 1982 by noted architect Pietro Belluschi. it was opened in 1983 as the Pavilion Hotel, as part of developer Theodore Gould's waterfront Miami Centre project.[1] However it was subject to foreclosure in 1985 which led to InterContinental being selected to manage it. They were granted a long-term management contract the following year when it was renamed the Intercontinental Miami.[2][3]
In 2009, the hotel began $30 million in renovations to better-complete with other downtown hotels, which were completed in 2012. The renovations included redecorated rooms with more technological features, presidential and executive suites designed by Venus Williams' agency V Starr, the new Richard Sandoval restaurant Toro Toro, and an exterior lighting system consisting of a new entrance with customizable multi-color lamps, and a 19-storey "digital canvas" of LED light bars on the sides of the building that can be used to play animations.[4][5][6] The "digital canvas" launched with an animation featuring a silhouette of a dancing woman.[6]
Gallery
The InterContinental in Downtown Miami on New Year's Eve, 2008-2009. Mr. Neon rises to the top one minute before midnight.
