Apple Miami World Center

Miami, FL

Project of the Year Nominee

Project Overview

The first free-standing mass timber and structural steel hybrid commercial building in the City of Miami. Designed by Apple's in-house team to achieve lower carbon emissions while featuring flawless finishes and natural materials, this technically demanding project redefines what's possible when innovation, precision, and collaboration come together. The structural steel framing served as the backbone of the building, providing primary support for mass timber components and enabling the expansive, open interior that defines the store's welcoming atmosphere.

Scope of Work

The building was composed of galvanized structural steel framing and mass timber members. With zero tolerance during erection, the team worked hand-in-hand with the mass timber subcontractor, reworking all connections that attached to the steel framing due to fabrication issues at the mass timber factory. The scope also included the fascia galvanized structural trim around the roof perimeter that attached to the mass timber roof members — the signature feature element of the building's exterior.

Challenges Overcome

Although steel cambers were predesigned, the moment mass timber loads were introduced, the original camber calculations proved insufficient. As the hybrid structure evolved and Florida moisture levels took effect, the building began to sag. The team worked tirelessly, adjusting all cantilevered members to triple positive cambers until achieving a post-camber tolerance of max 1/8 inch.

Innovation

As Miami's first hybrid steel/mass timber commercial building, the project demanded adaptability beyond precision. The steel was set to exact elevations, but as the hybrid structure evolved under Florida's moisture conditions, the team developed new field techniques for managing the interaction between steel rigidity and timber flexibility — a powerful lesson that mass timber buildings demand both precision and adaptability.

Safety Performance

Since this was the team's first hybrid structural building working with mass timber, safety was a constant focus reinforced during each morning's huddle. The project implemented the strictest hot work program of any project to date, which proved crucial in preventing fire ignition around the timber elements. The project was completed without a recordable incident.