Akoya Condominium

About

Akoya Condominium is a 47-story, high-rise residential condominium located in Miami Beach, Florida. Built in 2004 and rising 150 meters (492 feet), Akoya Condominium is the third tallest building in Miami Beach, after the 170-meter (559 ft) Blue and Green Diamonds and the 167-meter (548 ft) Five Park tower. It was built as one of the last very tall buildings permitted in Miami Beach before a 1998 height ordinance, capping buildings at 200 feet, went into effect. In the 2020s some of these restrictions were lifted as the 545-foot (166 m), 48-story Five Park was built in South Beach.

The Akoya Condominium was originally planned to be the White Diamond. Akoya has more floors than the Blue and Green Diamond buildings but does not have the diamond-shaped roof that they have. The original developer of the projects, Brazilian businessman Múcio Athayde, was forced to sell the White Diamond project in 2001 due to financial stresses that later put the other two buildings into bankruptcy. The project was completed by the MerCo Group, controlled by developer Homero Meruelo, which later also bought the nearby Deauville Hotel. The name "Akoya" is originally Japanese (阿古屋) and refers to the Akoya pearl oyster, which was chosen to replace the diamond theme.