Swire hires new SVP to head Brickell City Centre

Swire Properties has hired a new senior vice president to handle its Brickell City Centre project.

Gonzalo Cortabarria, formerly the managing director of Houston-based Hines Interests, will take on responsibility for the $1.05-billion development.

Cortabarria handled development and property management for Hines in South Florida, according to a news release.

His move comes days after Swire announced the topping off the Brickell City Centre’s western block. With the last pieces of steel laid, the company announced the first phase was on schedule for completion at the end of 2015.

Brickell City Centre will stretch across 9.1 acres in the financial district and will include two condominium towers, two office buildings, a hotel and roughly 520,000 square feet of restaurants and retail space. The shops will also feature a $30 million “Climate Ribbon” designed to keep customers cool.

“As one of the largest mixed-use developments in the country, Brickell City Centre required an individual with a work history steeped in the multiple facets of development,” said Swire Properties President Stephen Owens in a statement. “Gonzalo’s many years of overseeing and successfully managing large projects fits perfectly with the needs of this historic development for Miami.” — Sean Stewart-Muniz