Citadel Expands Its Footprint in Miami’s Financial District
Billionaire Ken Griffin’s investment firm, Citadel, is solidifying its commitment to Miami’s Brickell Financial District with the lease of two additional floors at the newly constructed 830 Brickell office tower. This expansion comes as the firm prepares for a significant wave of employee relocations to South Florida over the summer.
Initially eyeing six floors, Citadel and its market-making arm, Citadel Securities, have now snagged a total of eight floors in Miami’s financial district. The 55-story tower, a joint effort by OKO Group and Cain International, is the first top-tier office building Miami has seen in over a decade.
Though it faced delays since its 2022 completion, 830 Brickell has drawn a mixed bag of tenants, including tech behemoth Microsoft, private equity player Thoma Bravo, legal eagle Baker McKenzie, and Banco Santander. Citadel’s growth follows the exit of Chicago law firm Winston & Strawn and the shift of Kirkland & Ellis to higher floors.
A Citadel spokesperson confirmed the lease expansion but kept mum on details. The firm plans to settle its crew into the new digs later this summer. For now, Citadel’s operations are anchored at the Southeast Financial Center, 200 S. Biscayne Blvd., about a mile north in Miami’s central business hub. By summer’s end, Citadel aims to have 450 employees in Miami, bolstered by fresh hires and transfers from other locations.
830 Brickell: A Premier Office Tower Offering Luxury and Convenience
Dreamed up by Chicago’s Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, 830 Brickell unfurls 640,000 square feet of office space. But this tower isn’t just about business—it’s laden with lavish perks: a rooftop bar and lounge, a restaurant, a wellness center with yoga and fitness nooks, a sky lobby with lounge and work zones, an outdoor terrace, and a 24-hour concierge service. The rents here soar over $100 per square foot, way above the usual $80 per square foot in the Brickell area, as CoStar data shows.
Citadel’s leap to Miami is part of a grand strategy led by Griffin, who shifted the firm’s base from Chicago to Miami in 2022. Griffin pointed to Chicago’s rising crime and Florida’s pro-business environment as reasons for the move. His vision for Miami includes a planned $1 billion headquarters tower, with Griffin quietly snapping up prime real estate, including one of the last waterfront parcels in the financial district.
Beyond business, Griffin has showered Miami’s community with generosity, pouring millions into local schools, hospitals, and projects. His vision for Miami is bright, suggesting it could one day rival New York as a financial hub, calling it “Wall Street South.”
Leasing for 830 Brickell is managed by Cushman & Wakefield on behalf of developers OKO Group and Cain International.
As Citadel spreads its roots in Miami, the firm’s dedication underscores a larger trend of financial outfits flocking to South Florida, lured by its friendly business scene and lively economic prospects.
