End of an era: 23-story Mandarin Oriental Miami on Brickell Key to be imploded Sunday
By WLRN News Staff
April 12, 2026 at 12:01 AM EDT
The former Mandarin Oriental Miami — a landmark that has anchored the southern tip of Brickell Key for more than 25 years —will be reduced to rubble in a matter of seconds on Sunday morning.
The controlled demolition of the 23-story hotel and its adjacent parking structure is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and will be the the largest implosion Miami has seen in over a decade.
Miami police said the Brickell Key Bridge will be closed to traffic and pedestrians from 7:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Sunday. It is expected to be reopened by 1:30 p.m.
“The Mandarin Oriental’s implosion marks a major milestone in the redevelopment of the area and paves the way for the next era of Brickell Key,” Swire Properties, Inc., officials said in a statement.
Miami-based Swire Properties, Inc., is a leading developer of urban office, hotel, and condominium properties in South Florida.
The dust from the implosion will literally clear the path for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, a massive two-tower ultra-luxury development. The ambitious project, designed by global architecture firm KPF, is scheduled for completion in 2030.
The developer described the move as a transition into a "next-generation" era of hospitality and residential living.
The controlled demolition of the 23-story hotel and its adjacent parking structure is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and will be the the largest implosion Miami has seen in over a decade.
Miami police said the Brickell Key Bridge will be closed to traffic and pedestrians from 7:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Sunday. It is expected to be reopened by 1:30 p.m.
“The Mandarin Oriental’s implosion marks a major milestone in the redevelopment of the area and paves the way for the next era of Brickell Key,” Swire Properties, Inc., officials said in a statement.
Miami-based Swire Properties, Inc., is a leading developer of urban office, hotel, and condominium properties in South Florida.
The dust from the implosion will literally clear the path for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, a massive two-tower ultra-luxury development. The ambitious project, designed by global architecture firm KPF, is scheduled for completion in 2030.
The developer described the move as a transition into a "next-generation" era of hospitality and residential living.