Portman 'Imitation' Flatters South Beach ACE

MIAMI—Portman-CMC and South Beach ACE are presenting their final master plans for the Miami Beach Convention Center District on Thursday. But the news media tit for tat is still raging.

On Tuesday, Ambrish Baisiwala, CEO of Portman Holdings, said its final plan brings “a very different approach to convention center planning and creates a space that is wholly unique to Miami Beach.” The principals of South Beach ACE begs to differ. South Beach ACE issued the following statement:

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It is now clear that our competitor's architect has paid homage to his mentor, South Beach ACE partner and Pritzker Prize winner Rem Koolhaas of OMA. While Portman-CMC has borrowed many of our idea—including preserving the Jackie Gleason Theater, creating an exposed outdoor stage, reconfiguring 17th street and locating their hotel atop the convention center – their plan still falls short.

“The Portman-CMC proposal enlarges the convention center and fails to incorporate meeting and ballroom space within the building. This integration is a priority of convention center users, such as the Miami International Boat Show and numerous meeting planners who have endorsed the South Beach ACE plan. We know that a large, inefficient convention center is the last thing this community wants.

“While we were gathering community feedback and support, our competitors were busy shuffling their team members and rearranging their master plan. Now, at the eleventh hour, Portman-CMC is introducing lobbyist Dick Gephardt as a representative of their proposed hotel while team members Cirque du Soleil and Bal Harbour Shops are conspicuously absent.”