Detail: 720 Ocean Dr Miami Beach Florida: RuskinARC™

Basics

Resource Category:

Building

Resource Type:

domestic building

Location

Address:

720 Ocean Dr

City:

Miami Beach

County:

Miami-Dade

State/Province/Region:

Florida

Zip/Postal Code:

33139

Country:

USA

Other Address or Location Information:

Parcel/Tax number or land unit:

02-4203-004-0180

Local place name:

Setting/Landscape/Site Features:

Acreage, parcel, land unit size:

9,750 SQ FT

Quad/Map name and date:

Date

Township/Range/Section:

54S / 42E / 03

Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Historical Information

Historic name:

Beacon Hotel

Current name:

Beacon Hotel

Construction Date (range/estimated):

1930-1939

Construction Date Certainty:

documented

Known Construction Date:

1937

Source for Known Construction Date:

Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser

Architect/Designer:

Harry O. Nelson

Developer:

Builder:

O'Neill & Orr Building Corporation

Significant Owner(s):

Historical Summary:

Extant Status:

Not Demolished

Architectural Style and Form

Plan/Footprint Shape:

rectangular

Building Form or Plan Type (core plan):

Ocean Drive Hotel

Style, Primary:

Art Deco

Style, Secondary:

Notes on architectural style, form, distinguishing features:

Original facade: Symmetrical tripartite design; Vertical racing stripes; Horizontal banding; "Cut-out" ornamentation on either side of central bay; Decorative panels on the central vertical element above the main floor entrance; "Beacon Hotel" signage; Stepped ziggurat parapet roofline; Multi-colored terrazzo floor designs in the interior lobby; Glass etching ornamentation; Glass block ornamentation; Curved semi-circular and semi-ovular ornamentation

Architectural Elements and Features

Number of Stories:

Bays:

Structural System:

Reinforced Concrete

Foundation:

Spread footing

Basement:

Building Size:

40' x 214'

Square footage/meters:

30,305 (adjusted)

Roof Configuration:

Flat with parapet

Roof Material

Roof remarks/description:

Ziggurat roof line

Eave Type:

Eave Ornamentation:

Dormer Count:

Dormer Configuration:

Exterior Wall Material (primary):

stucco

Exterior Wall Material (secondary):

Pre-cast concrete

Notes on exterior materials:

Principal Windows::

replacement aluminum

Window Panes/Lights:

Window Type:

Single-Hung sashes

Window remarks:

Paired on either side of central elevation and single in the center

Chimney remarks/description:

Chimney Count (first):

Chimney Placement 1:

Chimney Count (second):

Chimney Placement 2:

Porch description, characteristics, details:

Terrazzo mosaic flooring; Art deco geometric patterned railing; Eight columns delimitating the space; Racing stripes; Glass block; Split level patio

Porch Height, Stories:

Porch Configuration:

Porch Type:

Porch Roof Shape:

Porch Roof Material:

Porch Columns/Posts (upper or only):

Porch Piers (lower):

Primary entryway:

Mezzanine; Wooden double-door with semi circular glass on each; Glass is ornamented with etchings of palm trees and flamingoes; Grand multi-colored terrazzo floor design lies just on the inside of the primary entryway

Function and Use

Historic Function:

Domestic: Hotel

Present Function:

Domestic: Hotel

Function remarks:

Listed, Designated, or Protected Status

Status Code:

Listed at the national level?

Individually Listed: No
Contributes to a District: Yes
Landmark: No

Date, name, remarks:

Miami Beach Architectural District, 1979

Designated at State/Province level?

Individually Listed: No
Contributes to a District: No
Landmark: No

Date, name, remarks:

Designated Locally?

Individually Listed: No
Contributes to a District: Yes
Landmark: No

Date, name, remarks:

Ocean Drive/Collins Avenue District, 1986

Protected by ordinance or regulation?:

Yes

Protection status, remarks:

1985

Evaluation of Potential Eligibility

Rating or Rank

Recommended as a potential landmark?

Criteria:

C. Embodies distinctive physical characteristics of design, construction, or form.

Significance and Context

Theme(s)

Period of significance

Significance/Context Remarks

Area(s) of Significance

Architecture
Community Planning and Development

Ancillary Structures / Outbuildings

Number of ancillary structures / outbuildings:

Secondary structure type

Contributing to primary property?

Ancillary structures remarks or description:

Condition and Alterations

Character of modifications:

Sympathetic alterations or restoration

General Condition:

Good

Moved or Relocated?:

Date moved or relocated:

Relocation remarks:

Alterations?

Date of major alterations:

Nature of alterations:

Additions?:

Yes

Date of major additions:

1948

Addition Height:

Three-story

Addition Placement:

side

Addition Type:

Extension

Nature of additions:

25' x 125' x 33' addition to south end of hotel; 22 rooms; Architect: N.M. Giller & J.P. Channing

Endangered / Threatened

Endangered by:

Endangered/Threatened remarks:

Recommendations:

Contact:

Tourism / Featured Destination

Open to the public:

Yes

Contact information, Hours, and Amenities:

For Sale, Rent, or Lease

Property Classification:

Sale status:

Sale remarks:

Owner

Ownership type:

Name of Owner:

Owner Mailing Address:

Legal Description of Property/Comments:

Survey and Recorder

Authorized Resource Number or ID :

Optional Tracking or Sequence Number:

Alternate Resource ID or Key:

Survey Date:

2012

Surveyed By:

Alison Garcia Kellar & Melinda Agron

Report Name, or Reason for Survey:

Re-survey of the district

Level of Survey:

reconnaissance

Sources, References, Bibliography

Previously Surveyed?

Yes

Name of Previous Survey:

Additional Research Recommended?

Other Sources of Information:

Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser
City of Miami Beach Planning Department records
Miami Design Preservation League records

General Remarks:

Custom / Extra Information

Finished Floor Elevation (NAVD88):

Latitude:	25.7771395698777800
Longitude:	-80.1314466889896300
UTM:	Zone 17R 587088.2303 mE, 2851290.9040 mN
Datum	WGS84

Beacon Hotel east elevation (view when facing west on Ocean Drive)

Signage and surrounding ornamentation on the primary facade of the Beacon Hotel

Low-barrier around the porch at the Beacon Hotel

Glass etchings on windows of the lobby that look out onto the porch of the Beacon Hotel

Terrazzo floor design in the lobby of the Beacon Hotel (immediately seen upon entering the primary entryway)

Terrazzo floor design in the lobby of the Beacon Hotel

Attached Files

720_OCEAN_DR_.pdf

720 Ocean Dr Miami Beach, Florida USA

Attached Files

Located in