Benihana
Rebuilding an Icon: Benihana North Bay Village Delivered in Just Six Months
Project Details
Size
Approx. 12,000 SF (ground-up rebuild on a 2-acre site with 180 piles)
Year
Location
Miami Beach, FL
Client
Benihana, now the ONE Group Hospitality
Benihana North Bay Village required the complete demolition of the previous structure and a full ground-up rebuild on the same waterfront property. The vision was to create a refreshed island dining setting with expanded indoor and outdoor areas and panoramic views of the bay and the Miami skyline. The mandate was to build the new facility in 6 months, game on!
The new layout includes teppanyaki dining rooms, a contemporary sushi lounge, and an indoor and outdoor cocktail bar with waterfront patio seating. The project preserved the brand’s signature interactive experience while elevating the overall ambiance for modern guests.
Most remarkably, the entire project moved from the start of construction to opening day in only six months. This accelerated schedule required precise coordination, continuous communication, and an all-in level of commitment from every member of the team.
The finished restaurant delivers a renewed and elevated Benihana experience, combining its iconic communal teppanyaki format with modern design, improved flow, and a vibrant new waterfront atmosphere.
01
PROCESS
02
CONTRUCTION
The new ground up building involved significant site upgrades, including 180 foundation piles, complete site utilities and drainage, and a brand new building with sophisticated MEP systems. The kitchen and teppanyaki program required exceptional coordination, with twenty-two commercial hoods integrated throughout the layout to support the high-volume cooking environment. Interior and exterior finishes were built to meet updated brand standards while maximizing visibility of the bay and skyline from nearly every seat.
"USCC team's knowledge and familiarity with the stringent local codes and regulations, the unique relationship with the building department, as well as out of the box strategies, like upgrading the interior framing and sheathing materials to exterior grade weather resistant quality, allowed us to start interior framing and sheeting materials to exterior grade weather resistant quality, allowed us to start interior framing and trade rough-ins, while still erecting steel, and weeks away from being completely dried-in. These demonstrated a collaboration with all trades which effectively allowed us to compress the schedule, resulting in a streamlined process that allowed for the completion of the project in record time."
Bill Bimmerman
Director of Construction, Benihana
