Oppenheim Architecture

Oppenheim Architecture is an architecture, planning, and interior-design practice established in Miami in 1999 by architect Chad Oppenheim. The firm developed from Oppenheim's early professional experience at Arquitectonica, a Miami-based architecture practice, after he completed a Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell University in 1994. Its work spans hospitality, commercial and mixed-use development, retail, private residences, civic-scale environments, and interior design. The practice is organized around offices in Miami, New York City, and Basel. The Basel operation was established in 2009 with Beat Huesler, extending the firm's presence into Europe, while the New York office opened in 2015. From these locations, Oppenheim Architecture has undertaken projects in more than 25 countries, with a portfolio that includes resorts, hotels, residences, offices, clubhouses, towers, and landscape-linked structures. Its work often emphasizes a strong relationship between buildings and their environmental setting, particularly in coastal, desert, mountain, and tropical contexts. Among the firm's best-known projects are Ten Museum Park in Miami, a high-rise residential development that ranks among the city's taller buildings; Net Metropolis in Manila, identified as the Philippines' first certified green building; the Wadi Rum Desert Resort in Jordan; House on a Dune in the Bahamas; La Muna in Aspen, Colorado; L.A. Villa in Los Angeles; Ayla Golf Clubhouse in Aqaba, Jordan; Emiliano Hotel in Rio de Janeiro; and Star Metals Residences in Atlanta. The practice has also designed prominent private residences, including L.A. Villa, which was associated with film director Michael Bay. Oppenheim Architecture's work has received recognition from professional and cultural institutions. The firm was named AIA Miami Firm of the Year in 2013 and has received more than 45 American Institute of Architects awards according to the firm's published profile. Individual project recognition has included AIA awards for L.A. Villa, Bal Harbour House, South Beach Penthouse, House on a Dune, and Ten Museum Park. In 2018, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum awarded the practice the National Design Award for Interior Design, one of its most prominent distinctions. The firm's practice is positioned at the intersection of architecture, interiors, planning, and destination development. Its portfolio combines design services for private clients and developers with work on hospitality and mixed-use destinations. Recent projects listed for the practice include Desert Rock Resort in Hanak, Saudi Arabia, and Escondido in Malibu. Because detailed information about ownership, revenue, staffing, and current corporate structure is not established in the supplied reference material, those corporate fields remain unspecified.

Oppenheim Architecture was founded in Miami in 1999 by Chad Oppenheim. Oppenheim studied architecture at Cornell University and received his Bachelor of Architecture in 1994. After graduation, he worked at Arquitectonica in Miami. He left that firm in 1999 to establish his own practice, creating a studio whose work would later extend across architecture, planning, and interiors. The practice initially developed a portfolio centered on residential, commercial, and hospitality commissions. Its geographic identity remained connected to Miami, while its projects increasingly addressed a broader range of climates and cultural settings. This expansion is reflected in the firm's work across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other international markets. Rather than operating only as a building-design office, Oppenheim Architecture has worked across multiple scales, from private homes and interior environments to towers, resort destinations, golf facilities, and mixed-use developments. A major organizational development occurred in 2009, when Chad Oppenheim and Beat Huesler opened the firm's Basel office. The European location broadened the practice's ability to work with clients and projects in Europe and helped establish a three-office structure. Oppenheim Architecture New York followed in 2015, adding a presence in another major design and development market in the United States. The firm's selected projects show the breadth of its work. Ten Museum Park in Miami, completed in the 2000s, is a significant residential tower and is described among Miami's taller buildings. The Simpson Park Hammock Pavilion, completed in 2009, demonstrates the practice's engagement with landscape and public-facing structures. International work includes the Wadi Rum Desert Resort in Jordan, Wharf Road in Australia, Net Metropolis in Manila, and House on a Dune in the Bahamas. Net Metropolis is identified as the first certified green building in the Philippines. Other residential and hospitality projects include La Muna in Aspen, Kirchplatz Office in Basel, Villa Allegra in Miami, L.A. Villa in Los Angeles, Emiliano Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Ayla Golf Clubhouse in Aqaba, and Star Metals Residences in Atlanta. The firm has also become associated with high-profile private residential work. L.A. Villa in Los Angeles was identified as a residence for film director Michael Bay, while the practice's broader private-residence portfolio includes projects in locations such as Miami, the Bahamas, Aspen, and Malibu. These commissions contributed to the firm's profile in luxury residential architecture. Professional recognition accumulated through AIA programs, design institutions, and architecture awards. Oppenheim Architecture received AIA Miami Firm of the Year in 2013 and accumulated more than 45 AIA awards according to the supplied reference. Project-specific distinctions included awards for Ten Museum Park, House on a Dune, L.A. Villa, Bal Harbour House, and South Beach Penthouse. The firm's 2018 National Design Award for Interior Design from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum was a particularly notable institutional honor. Recent selected work includes Escondido in Malibu and Desert Rock Resort in Hanak, Saudi Arabia, indicating the continuing scope of the practice in residential and hospitality design.

1. 2024Desert Rock Resort selected project

   Desert Rock Resort in Hanak, Saudi Arabia, was listed as a recent selected project.

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2. 2020Star Metals Residences selected project

   Star Metals Residences in Atlanta was listed among the firm's selected projects.

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3. 2018National Design Award for Interior Design

   Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum awarded the firm its National Design Award for Interior Design.

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4. 2015New York office opened

   Oppenheim Architecture opened its New York office.

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5. 2015Net Metropolis recognized for green-building status

   Net Metropolis in Manila was identified as the Philippines' first certified green building.

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6. 2013Named AIA Miami Firm of the Year

   AIA Miami recognized Oppenheim Architecture as its Firm of the Year.

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7. 2009Basel office opened

   Chad Oppenheim and Beat Huesler opened the firm's Basel office, expanding its European presence.

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8. 2007Ten Museum Park selected project

   Ten Museum Park in Miami became one of the firm's notable high-rise residential projects.

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9. 1999Practice founded in Miami

   Chad Oppenheim established Oppenheim Architecture after working at Arquitectonica and completing his architectural education at Cornell University.

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An internationally operating design practice focused on architecture, planning, interiors, hospitality, and residential projects that integrate buildings with their geographic and environmental context.

• Hospitality and resort architectureArchitecture

  The practice designs hotels, resorts, clubhouses, and destination environments. Examples include the Wadi Rum Desert Resort, Ayla Golf Clubhouse in Aqaba, Emiliano Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, and Desert Rock Resort in Saudi Arabia. These projects demonstrate the firm's work in settings where architecture, landscape, hospitality programming, and local environmental conditions are closely connected.

• Private residencesResidential architecture

  Private residential architecture is a prominent part of Oppenheim Architecture's portfolio. The firm has designed homes in Miami, Los Angeles, the Bahamas, Aspen, Malibu, and other locations. L.A. Villa, associated with film director Michael Bay, and House on a Dune are among the residences specifically identified in the firm's selected-project history.

• Commercial and mixed-use buildingsCommercial architecture

  The firm undertakes commercial, office, mixed-use, and high-rise work. Ten Museum Park in Miami is a notable residential tower, while Kirchplatz Office in Basel, GLF Headquarters in Miami, and Star Metals Residences in Atlanta illustrate the practice's involvement in workplace, headquarters, and mixed-use contexts.

• Interior designInterior design

  Interior design forms part of the firm's integrated service offering alongside architecture and planning. The practice's interior work contributed to its 2018 National Design Award for Interior Design from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

• Planning and destination designPlanning

  Oppenheim Architecture also provides planning and broader destination-design services. Its international portfolio includes resort, mixed-use, retail, and landscape-related commissions, allowing the practice to work from individual buildings and interiors through larger development settings.

• 2024Oppenheim Architecture completes or lists Desert Rock Resort project in Saudi Arabia

  Desert Rock Resort in Hanak, Saudi Arabia, appears among the practice's selected recent projects.

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• 2018Oppenheim Architecture receives the National Design Award for Interior Design

  Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum recognized Oppenheim Architecture with its National Design Award for Interior Design.

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• 2013Oppenheim Architecture receives AIA Miami Firm of the Year recognition

  AIA Miami named Oppenheim Architecture its Firm of the Year.

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1. Oppenheim Architecture