Make-A-Wish Foundation to build 30,000 sq. ft. chapter headquarters in Overtown

Florida Construction News // March 20, 2021

By Mark Buckshon

Make-A-Wish Southern Florida unveiled an updated design and new renderings for the chapter’s proposed headquarters in its newly acquired site in the Overtown neighborhood.

The 30,000-square-foot building will rise 5 stories, including 15,000SF of office space with the remaining space to serve as an innovative Wish House inclusive of emerging technology to provide children with an inspirational, fun and safe destination to experience wishes. The building was designed by award-winning firm Arquitectonica.

The Finker-Frenkel Wish House will extend the impact of the wish experience, establish the organization’s permanence in the community and advance new revenue opportunities.

“Along with our partners, we’re excited to finally bring the vision of our Miami facility to life. From celebratory to business event spaces, the hope is that our new headquarters will provide the community and wish recipients a creative haven within Southern Florida,” said Norman Wedderburn, President and CEO.

South Florida-based owner advisory firm, Amicon Management, was recently selected as the owner’s representative for the Make-A-Wish chapter to manage the design and construction process.

“The Amicon team is honored to be working alongside Make-A-Wish Southern Florida as their owner’s representative on this transformative project. The foundation’s long-standing and life-changing mission fuels our collaborative spirit, and we look forward to bringing the Wish House to the South Florida community.”

The project will create over 40 jobs and aid the nonprofit organization’s mission of granting wishes for critically ill children. Currently, Make-A-Wish Southern Florida’s headquarters are located in Fort Lauderdale.

The organization is in the middle of a $30 million fundraising campaign for the new facility, and wish endowment. The project is expected to break ground this summer.