Following the soil stabilization work, Suffolk installed auger cast piles to form the deep foundation system, which is topped with a mat slab consisting of 2,800 cu yd of concrete poured across the entire building footprint to evenly distribute structural loads. Reinforced shear walls and core walls rise from this base, with one subterranean level serving as a logistics and loading dock and the second as a full-floor parking garage.

The use of advanced soil mixing techniques stabilized the beachfront site in Miami Beach, setting the stage for installation of the 18-story residential tower’s deep foundation system and two subterranean basement levels.
Photo courtesy of Suffolk Construction

Suffolk Construction senior superintendent Zharel Silva says excavation and foundation sequence required installation of a support of excavation system of soldier piles, whalers, tiebacks and cross-lots, all of which is being replaced by a permanent diaphragm wall as vertical construction progresses. Silva notes that while DSM and TSM are proven methods in geotechnical engineering, their scale and intensity here are relatively uncommon.

“Beachfront projects in Miami often require some level of ground improvement, but the Aman Miami Beach site demanded a particularly robust program because of its two full basement levels and the preservation of a historic oceanfront facade,” Silva explains. “This combination of conditions—deep excavation directly on the shoreline, integration with historic elements and a high-rise structure above—made soil mixing indispensable to the project’s success.”

Designed by celebrated Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, Aman Residences embraces a minimalist aesthetic that combines angular lines and soft, undulating forms. It draws on Japanese materials and motifs while respecting Miami Beach’s Art Deco heritage. Kuma’s design introduces fluid transitions between interior and exterior spaces, creating a structure that is both visually striking and harmonious with the surrounding landscape.

Designed for Miami Beach’s coastal environment, the tower’s superstructure is a reinforced concrete frame with cast-in-place slabs and shear walls, with a facade system that will combine floor-to-ceiling glass and high-performance cladding to maximize views while also being designed to withstand hurricane-force winds and salt air. According to Silva, vertical construction is advancing on a two-week cycle per floor, with topping out expected early next year. Tower completion is set for 2027.

—Jim Parsons

Rivian Breaks Ground On $5B EV Plant in Georgia

Rivian Automotive has broken ground on its long-planned electric-vehicle factory in Georgia, a $5-billion project supported by one of the state’s largest incentive packages and a multibillion-dollar federal loan designed to anchor EV manufacturing in the Southeast.

The company and state leaders marked the official start of site development on Sept. 16, with construction mobilization in 2026, and vehicle production beginning in 2028, says the automaker.

Being completed in two phases, the facility will span roughly 9 million sq ft and have a production capacity that seeks to top 400,000 vehicles annually. Rivian says its R2 and R3 crossover models will anchor production at the plant.

Georgia officials estimate the value of state and local incentives at about $1.5 billion. The economic development agreement signed by Rivian and the state in 2022 and reviewed by ENR outlines statutory tax credits, property tax abatements, workforce training, land and infrastructure improvements and discretionary “speed-to-market” spending.

The state legislature appropriated $112.6 million for land acquisition and site preparation, including a new interchange, a rail spur and training center.

The U.S. Dept. of Energy said in January it had closed on a loan of up to $6.57 billion to Rivian New Horizon LLC, the entity building the Georgia plant, covering site development, construction and manufacturing facilities.

The car company temporarily paused the project in 2024 to conserve cash while launching its R2 line at its Normal, Ill., plant. It restarted work after securing federal financing and reconfirming its long-term strategy.

—Bryan Gottlieb

Developers Boost Permian Basin Gas Power Capacity

LandBridge Co., an Australian energy developer focused on the Permian Basin region of western Texas, and independent power producer NRG Energy signed a strategic agreement Sept. 23 for a potential 1.1-GW natural gas power plant in Reeves County that the firms said is intended to supply a future hyperscale data center. No final investment decision has yet been made nor project cost estimate released. Work is contingent on securing a long-term power purchase agreement, regulatory approvals and financing, but the firms said commercial operation could begin by year-end 2029.

Vistra Corp. also announced on Sept. 29 that it will more than triple the size of its Permian basin gas power plant near Monahans, noting a final investment decision to spend about $950 million to add two new “advanced” gas units totalling 860 MW, bringing its total capacity to 1,185 MW by 2028.

Utility Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) said Permian Basin power demand is set to rise to nearly 24,000 MW in 2030, driven by population growth, data centers and more oil and gas production, according to data it released.

Targa Resources Corp. said Sept. 30 it will construct the 500-mile Speedway pipeline to transport natural gas liquids from the Permian Basin to its processing plant in Mont Belvieu, Texas. Expected to be in service in the third quarter of 2027, it will have initial capacity of 500,000 barrels per day.

—Debra K. Rubin