After revealing its inaugural Fort Lauderdale project late last year, New York City–based design and architecture studio ODA is back with an early look at its second project in the beachy Broward County burg: a sizable mixed-use project with a duo of sculptural, 43-story residential towers topping a nine-story podium and more than 11,000 square feet of space for restaurants and retail on the building’ ground floor.
ODA is serving as design architect of the 1.5 million gross-square-foot development and also designing the building’s interiors and landscape, the latter of which includes a large urban plaza connected to a double-height colonnade ringing the building. The prominently sited corner plaza is meant to act as a “catalyst for public activity,” per a press release from the firm.
Located at 300 NE 3rd Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale on the southern edge of the artsy and redevelopment-ripe erstwhile industrial enclave of Flager Village, the Dependable Equities–developed project, dubbed Ombelle, will add 1,100 rental units to housing-starved southeastern Florida, and with no shortage of luxurious, condo-esque amenities to boot: on tap are an al fresco bar equipped with a chef’s kitchen, game room, shared garden, and slew of health and wellness facilities such as a gym, spa, spin room, and yoga studio. And because this is the Sunshine State, Ombelle will feature two swimming pools accessible to residents: an infinity pool and a lushly landscaped pool that will be steps away from a work lounge.
“We are looking to establish a high-end, condo-like experience for renters,” explained Isaac Schlesinger, head of Dependable Equities, in a statement. “Our 75,000-square-foot amenity deck will be a renter’s dream. We are aiming to bring a product to the market that does not exist today.”
Ombelle is similar in size and scope to the ODA-helmed 300 West Broward, which also features twin residential towers, albeit ones where the uppermost floors connect to form an elongated, 0-shaped void between them. That development, which is set to be Fort Lauderdale’s tallest tower(s) at 558-feet when completed, also features ground-level retail, myriad amenities, and a sheltered public plaza tucked into the underside of the podium. (Currently, the tallest residential high-rise on the Fort Lauderdale skyline is the 455-foot Icon Las Olas; it was completed in 2017 with a design by Sieger Suarez Architects, a Miami firm that’s no stranger to tall Florida towers.)
Both of ODA’s forthcoming Fort Lauderdale buildings also feature private outdoor space aplenty, with Ombelle’s facade being made up of a “delicate exoskeleton with an outer shell of terraces and balconies varying in depth, length and density to create a feeling of individual identity between homes.”
“We are thrilled to be part of Fort Lauderdale’s transformation into a robust forward-thinking city and international destination,” said Eran Chen, founder and executive director of ODA. “With the carefully thought-out masterplan that is being implemented, the city is embracing change.”
“ODA’s design has always pushed boundaries, often blurring the line between indoor and outdoor, architecture and art, building and landscape,” added Chen. “There is nowhere better to be pushing this boundary than Flagler Village—one of the trendiest neighborhoods with a charming blend of youth, community, art and culture. From the beautifully landscaped public plaza that carves into the corner of the site, to the staggered outdoor balconies that create unique sky gardens for each apartment, Ombelle celebrates this exciting new chapter of design in the city.”
As reported by the Commercial Observer, Brooklyn-based Dependable Equities filed for approval with the city earlier this month and plans to break ground later this year if all goes as planned. The developer It acquired the Flager Village-adjacent 1.9-acre site late last year for $27 million.
