A look at TRD‘s buzz-filled South Florida showcase: PHOTOS

Crowd of more than 4,000 joined real estate heavyweights and industry up-and-comers

More than 4,000 real estate professionals and one very famous tennis star turned out for The Real Deal‘s annual South Florida Forum and Showcase, an event that highlighted the region’s latest condo projects.

The showcase, which took place in the heart of the Miami Design District, also brought together some of the industry’s top brokers, developers, designers and architects to weigh in on Miami’s latest condo boom.

Panelists from TRD‘s broker panel said Miami can expect an influx of New York investors as Russians begin to exit due to sanctions over the country’s ongoing involvement in the Ukraine. Developers like Don Peebles cited concerns over rising construction costs in Miami, with Swire Properties CEO Stephen Owens calling the issue a “800-pound gorilla in the room no one likes to talk about.”

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Steven Gurowitz, John Hitchcox, Chad Oppenheim and Karim Rashid touted Miami’s influence on the world of architecture. “Miami is at the forefront of design,” said Oppenheim, whose firm designed Ten Museum Park and 400 Sunny Isles, among other South Florida developments.

Missed out on The Real Deal‘s forum and showcase? Check out the above slideshow. — Kerry Barger