Miami’s Largest Office Tower Has A Giant New Rooftop Butterfly Mural

A giant butterfly mural has been completed on a rooftop at the Southeast Financial Center in downtown Miami.

The mural was done freehand by Mantra, a French artist.

It showcases 18 butterflies that can be found in downtown Miami and around Florida.

It took 400 hours and 200 gallons of paint over a six week period to complete, according to Designboom.

The Southeast Financial Center wrote on social media that the 35,000 square foot commission was the result of a “vote.”

The mural is on the roof of the building’s garage and can be seen from other surrounding buildings. A public tour of the rooftop mural was offered while the work was in progress in early December.

The Southeast Financial Center is Miami’s largest office tower, and was formerly the tallest building in Miami.

 

 

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Anonymous Me!
11 days ago

Great idea! I hope this becomes a new trend, giving those flying overhead and those viewing from higher perches something interesting to look at. Perhaps this will put Miami on the map in what I presume is a truly unique way. Is this a common practice elsewhere?

Jenna
11 days ago

The Metromover stations should do this!!❤️

Anon
11 days ago

They kind of have green roofs. And what I mean by that is they are so poorly maintained you can see weeds growing off the roof as you walk by.

Tito
11 days ago

Kudos to the person who thought of such beautiful idea!

Anonymous
11 days ago

For those who weren’t here when the building was being constructed, it had a high atrium roof over a plaza connecting the garage to the rest of the building. Sadly, a construction worker fell to his death when the atrium and its glass ceiling were installed. Recently the atrium was removed and with it its history.

HWR2701
11 days ago

In the 80s and 2010s someone fell? It was there until the 2010s but wasn’t it vented and it didn’t fully block rain?

Lovin’ Spoonful
11 days ago

From 19 days ago, “Complimentary Inspiration” (scroll down at link), with no clue this existed or was in the works: “It could even feature an indoor/outdoor mid-block space, like an all-glass atrium …there could even be a butterfly garden—or, for a more refined approach, sculpted butterflies integrated into the design.”

Wow—impressed by this design and grateful for the magic taking place in Miami!

https://www.thenextmiami.com/federal-government-announces-plan-to-sell-brickell-plaza/

Daedy
11 days ago

I love this design and would choose it any day, but for buildings on a budget, here are some ideas. Rooftops shouldn’t be solid white—they look fresh at first but get dirty quickly from runoff. A soft gray could help hide the dirt, or a reflective coating could bring light to nearby buildings. A simple chevron design or textured pattern could be an affordable option for easy replication. For a creative DIY twist, rooftops could even have a Jackson Pollock-inspired design with shades of gray, blue, or other colors.

Dade-y-ussimplify
10 days ago

I shall add that I think we should update the Building Code to require all rooftops be painted with a marbled gray affect insteaf of pure white. It’s very simply to paint a marbled soft gray, off white–white masks the dirt that inevitably created wripples of scurffy stains– imagine thw white floors everywhere that show even the smalled black speck, but a marbled soft war grey, cream color with texture alwaus looks clean. — but yes (1) green roofs are the gold standard, and (2) murals are the silver standard, and at times, when done masterfully like butter flies, skips gold and goes right up to iconic platinum level, and (3) bronze is the etexturd paint, which shoudl be default; but (4) if we must a solid white is okey, but its kind of a waste of resources and not totally sustianable on affordable buildings, bc it defeats purpose, and more expensive bc it needs freqwuent redone.

Dade-y-simplification
10 days ago

Update: I propose that we update the Building Code to make marbled gray the default rooftop color instead of pure white. Marbled gray or off-white is easy to apply and better at hiding dirt and stains, unlike pure white, which quickly looks scuffed—similar to how white floors show every speck of dirt. A textured gray or cream color maintains a cleaner and more polished appearance over time.

Here’s the suggested hierarchy for rooftop treatments:

***** Gold standard: Green roofs, the most sustainable and functional option.
**** Silver standard: Murals, which can be iconic when done well.
*** Default (Bronze standard): Marbled or textured paint, practical and durable.
** Acceptable (White): Solid white can be used but is less sustainable and requires frequent repainting, making it costlier for affordable buildings.

By making marbled gray the standard, we achieve a balance of aesthetics, practicality, and sustainability.

Dade-y-simplification
10 days ago

✨ Marbled sand ✨ alongside cool gray silver options, as our default rooftop paint options—a stunning combination that mirrors the natural beauty of our surroundings. Picture rooftops resembling the gorgeous dunes of our beaches, blending seamlessly with the turquoise blue waters in the backdrop. How incredible would it be if all our roofs reflected this harmony with nature as the standard? The future is coming—I just saw it, and it’s marvelous!

Dade-y-simplification
10 days ago

Correction:

** Acceptable (light grey or pale sand): Solid light grey or pale sand are cost-effective alternatives to white rooftops, offering a clean and attractive appearance while being more resistant to visible dirt. These colors also complement gray/white-painted vertical surfaces effectively.

* Discouraged (white roofs): While white may match the walls of some buildings, it is less sustainable for rooftops due to its tendency to show dirt and require frequent repainting, making it a costlier option for affordable buildings.

Wolfgang731
11 days ago

That is really beautiful and unique!

🦋O🦋!
11 days ago

It’s incredible to see that butterfly garden idea come to life in such a unique way—it feels like a perfect fit. Butterflies capture the magic of Miami, especially the monarchs that flutter daily along the Underline. A rooftop mural wasn’t something I had in mind, but I fully support creative roof designs over plain mechanics. This one looks like a glass case—absolutely stunning work by whoever designed it.

Jenna
11 days ago

Imagine doing that on every rooftop and the Metromover stations!! All Miami would look so cool!

Anonymous
11 days ago

Hope to see this on the modern low-rises scattered around Brickell, allowing them to cement their legacies alongside the landmark skyscrapers rising nearby.

Daedalus
10 days ago

Free Idea! Have you noticed how rooftops are painted white with gray AC units that look like gray squares with black circles—almost like eyes? It’d be so easy to blend them into the design!

Just paint a light gray base, add a darker gray grid, and use a compass to paint dark gray circles in each square. Outline the circles with lighter gray or off-white for depth. The result? An illusion that hides the AC units seamlessly.

Someone should patent this—I’m busy helping people! Please just pay it forward.

Anon
11 days ago

A green roof would be preferable but this is also nice

Anonymous
11 days ago

What happened to the original plan… you know, building the second tower?

Lamont D Sanford
10 days ago

???
There are two towers there. The tall one, and the one with the butterflies on top.

Anonymous
11 days ago

All these comparisons of Miami to New York and the historical value in New York buildings…..New York is a hundred years older…..it better have history…!!!!….Miami is doing just fine thank you…….

Daedy
11 days ago

The man maketh history in Miami or he shall live in its shadows elsewhere.

Cover the Podiums
11 days ago

*on top of the parking garage

Anonymous
11 days ago

Cool.

Anonion
11 days ago

Finally murals with hope and meaning in downtown Miami –
Like the ones in west Palm Beach,
Nor the superficial kind of paint jobs

Anonymous
11 days ago

So nice to see priorities… meanwhile, buildings blocks away are boarded up and covered in graffiti.

DroppingFacts
11 days ago

Miami really is going to be the city of the future. Feel bad for all the brainwashed New Yorkers….”MaNhAtTaN hAs HiStOrY tHoUgh”, while living in some broken down apt paying stupid amounts of $$

Anonymous
11 days ago

100-plus year old architectural history is better than any butterflies on top of a parking garage, that will all fade by the end of this year’s rainy season.

Anonymous
11 days ago

You have a distorted view of Manhattan. I suggest you get on a plane and visit New York.

Lamont D Sanford
10 days ago

I used to love Manhattan, but then someone booked up hundreds and thousands of hotel rooms driving the rates up.
They say that spontaneous combustion is the NY Subway danger when it used to just be asbestos brake dust and urine fumes.

I’ll head back there again on business, but not taking the wife and kids.
There is that Hallel Guy food truck that has gained even more notoriety.

Simon Totes
10 days ago

I’d go there for a milestone event, but otherwise, I’ve grown out of NY. It’s great for training and gaining life experience quickly, but not the only place in America to do this now. Once you’ve experienced it, life is too short to go back—especially when business can be done faster and more efficiently online at a mastery level.

Typical Ignorance
11 days ago

Try exploring outside of Hialeah sometime