© OMA

South Beach Ace

Typically, as convention centers evolve their footprints expand. In Miami Beach-an island where every acre is precious and the only "periphery" is ocean-the convention center has claimed an entire precinct for asphalt. Since its initial construction in the 1950's, the Miami Beach Convention Center has expanded twice, each time claiming more open space from the city and looming closer to its neighbors.

As the Convention Center looks to grow once again, is it possible to escape the inevitable sacrifice of the city around it? Today Miami Beach has an opportunity to undo 50 years of mistakes and reconnect neighborhoods severed by the elephant in their midst. It's time for a different model of growing a Convention Center...