City of Miami Beach Expands Government Access

Challenge: Outdated Tech in City Commission Chamber

When the Miami Beach City Hall opened its doors in 1977, the only avenue citizens had to watch their local government at work was to show up for a meeting. They had to carve out the time, come down to City Hall, have a seat and watch the gears of democracy turn. There were no other options.   

Fast forward a few decades, and that is no longer the case. Citizens of Miami Beach can stream government meetings live or watch them recorded online. Access to government is now greater than ever. That access, however, is enhanced by (and in some cases, dependent on) technology that was not available in 1977.   

In 2023, the city endeavored to overhaul the commission chamber, the space in City Hall where local officials convene, to create a more engaging experience for both in-person and online viewers.   

“The overarching goal was to create a room that was beautiful, that was welcoming and futureproof, so that we could broadcast to our residents and beyond for the next 20-30+ years,” said Frank Garcia, the City of Miami Beach’s Facilities Management Division Director.  

To complete what Video Production and Operations Manager Pierre Joseph called “by far one of the biggest technology implementations” in the history of the building, the City of Miami Beach turned to a project delivery method they’ve trusted for years.  

See all Gordian solutions for helping state and local government entities build, budget and maintain their capital-intensive building assets.  

Solution: Gordian’s Job Order Contracting Accelerates Chamber Upgrades 

Across North America, Job Order Contracting (JOC) is renowned for its efficiency because it enables organizations to complete many projects using one contract, eliminating the time, effort and resources of putting every project out for bid while satisfying relevant procurement laws.  

Responsible for over $4 billion in construction volume in 2024 alone, JOC reduces the construction procurement cycle by as much as 25%, according to a report by NIGP and Gordian. This accelerated speed to construction was exactly what the City of Miami Beach needed.   

“We were on borrowed time from day one,” Garcia said. “We had to displace 40+ city commission and committee meetings in order to work on this room. When time is of the essence, JOC can be a really useful tool.”  

The City of Miami Beach awarded the City Hall renovation to Lee Construction, a South Florida contractor with decades of experience. They worked with William Lane Architect, a celebrated firm specializing in dynamic, contemporary designs. The contractor and the architect collaborated on a design that preserved City Hall’s historic integrity while transforming the space into the environment desired by the city. According to Frank Garcia, this commitment and teamwork were evident throughout the project.  

“Everybody had an understanding of the importance of the job and turning items around as quickly as possible. There was a sense of reverence for the project and what we were doing as a team.”  

Result: A Chamber Overhauled and a Community Served

Renovations began in October of 2023. The Lee Construction team moved the AV room from the first floor to the second floor, replaced interior finishes, expanded seating and enhanced audio/visual tech, including 4K cameras, to allow the meetings to be broadcast live to the community.   

Said Pierre Joseph, “Everything that we purchased served a purpose and a had long life span. We went with big monitors. We have podiums that allow wheelchairs and mics set at the perfect height, so they don’t have to provide much effort to utilize the systems. We’ve incorporated Siri in with our mixers, our lighting and our touchscreen panels have increased the quality of life for your residents by far.”  

Throughout the course of the project, collaboration and communication were paramount to keeping on schedule and within budget. This teamwork is a natural outgrowth of the long-term partnership between the City of Miami Beach and Gordian.  

“I had to work with Frank really closely to make sure that the scope and that each line item was fitting the task in front of us,” said Gustavo Arauz, Area Manager and Gordian’s point person for the project. “It takes a team, and we have a great team in the Gulf Coast.”  

Daniel Alvarez, Project Manager for Lee Construction, echoed these sentiments.  “It was a team effort, from Gordian to us at Lee Construction to the City of Miami Beach staff to William Lane Architects. I’m very proud that I was a part of this project and that we were able to get it done successfully.”  

Work on the $2.4 million renovation finished in May 2024, and the new and improved space opened to rave reviews.   

“When we unveiled, there was a real wow factor,” Garcia said.   

“Our new chamber is the people’s house,” Mayor Steven Meiner said. “A place of community featuring state-of-the-art amenities that our residents deserve.”  

As a result of the upgrade, online viewership of government meetings increased by over 31,000 new viewers. Thanks to innovation, collaboration and Job Order Contracting, the people of Miami Beach now enjoy greater access to local government.