MIAMI—Some are calling it the untold story of a how a singleman's business principles led to the restoration of Miami's largestreal estate building and brand stature. And it's no ordinarybuilding. It's Southeast Financial Center, Florida's tallest andlargest office tower and plaza—and the largest in the Southeast at1.225 million square feet.

That man is JLL senior vice presidentDonald Cartwright. At the height of what was theworst economic downturn this modern generation has seen, it didn'tcome as a surprise to Cartwright that the largest real estate assetin Miami was about to implode.

In part one of this two-part exclusive interview, GlobeSt.comcaught up with Cartwright to take a look back on what was then theWachovia Financial Center and the initial steps he took toreposition the tower. Be sure to come back this afternoon for parttwo, in which Cartwright will discuss his views on another round ofoverbuilding and the lessons he learned from the last crash.