CLIENT NEWS: Historic South Beach buildings to become lifestyle hotel by 2029
February 5, 2026A pair of historic 1940s-era buildings in the heart of South Beach’s Art Deco district are slated for a transformation into a multi-structure hotel and residential project.
Starwood Hotels and Keyah Real Estate Group announced Jan. 27 that they will partner on the Treehouse Hotel Miami Beach, a project that merges historic preservation with new construction.
Scheduled to open in early 2029, the development marks the first resort offering for the Treehouse brand. Its identity will center on nostalgia and design-forward spaces, according to the developers.
The project involves the adaptive reuse of the former Haddon Hall at 1500 Collins Ave. and the Campton Apartments at 1455 Washington Ave. These classic structures will be integrated with a new-build tower featuring an ocean-view rooftop.
While the brand is set to utilize an informal aesthetic, the developers say the Miami Beach location will draw architectural inspiration from Spanish Mediterranean Regionalism and Miami Modern design.
Starwood Hotels, the Miami-based management company behind the project, was founded by Barry Sternlicht and operates as an affiliate of the Miami Beach-based Starwood Capital Group.
The firm specializes in high-end lifestyle brands, including the luxury Baccarat Hotels and the sustainability-focused 1 Hotels. Treehouse, Sternlicht’s newest venture, launched in London in 2019 and has since expanded to Manchester and Silicon Valley.
“Treehouse Hotels is about capturing that carefree joy you had as a kid, when every day felt like an adventure,” Sternlicht said in a statement regarding the brand’s philosophy.
The hotel’s interiors, designed by Houston-based Rottet Studio, will utilize natural materials and handcrafted details intended to appear tactile and unpolished. Several of the property’s suites will offer views of the Atlantic Ocean, situated directly across the street from the beachfront.
Beyond guest rooms, the development is positioned as a local culinary and wellness hub. Plans include a central courtyard with a pool, multiple dining and lounge spaces, and a spa and wellness club open to both guests and the local community.
“By reimagining these historic buildings through a modern lens, the property creates an experience that respects Miami Beach’s architectural heritage,” said Raul Leal, CEO of Starwood Hotels.
Keyah Real Estate Group, an owner and developer with offices in Miami and New York, is spearheading the development of the site. The firm indicated that the project aims to introduce a boutique resort model to a specific segment of the Miami Beach market.
“This property will be one of Miami’s most exciting destinations not only as an iconic hotel, but also as a culinary hub and place to be and be seen,” said Xaver Kriechbaum, president of Keyah Real Estate Group.
The Miami Beach site is part of a broader global expansion for the Treehouse brand, which has additional projects currently under development in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood as well as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Adelaide, Australia.
When it opens, Treehouse will compete with established boutique hotels such as the Mediterranean-inspired Esmé Miami Beach, the Georgian Revival landmark The Betsy Hotel, and the minimalist luxury of The Miami Beach Edition.
The Treehouse hotel is entering a market that continues to be a bustling tourism destination. Miami-Dade County drew more than 28 million visitors in 2024, a record for the region, including an estimated 10 million to Miami Beach alone, according to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority.
While mid-2025 data showed some softening in international travel from key markets like Canada, the bureau has yet to release its finalized full-year estimates. The agency, however, has calculated that tourism throughout the county exceeds $31 billion in total economic impact.
