Bacardi Cantilever Building, Miami

The Bacardi Cantilever Building is a landmark structure in Miami and forms part of the complex that houses the headquarters of the Bacardi Rum Company. It has become an outstanding example of engineering in architecture and an important part of the itinerary of visitors to the city.

The Bacardi Cantilever Building was built in 1973 to house the offices of the Cuban company in exile well known for their famous brand of rum. It is located on the western side of the Plaza that also has another modernist structure called the Bacardi Tower. It was designed by Miami architect, Ignacio Carrera Justiz. It is a square building with a height of 47 feet above a central core. It has four walls with one inch thick glass mural tapestries hammered to the exterior. The square structure has two floors that cantilever for about 24 feet on either side of the central core. 28 tensor rods support each floor. The financial and accounting offices of the company are located here.

The glass tapestries that form the façade portray a fruit bat that is on the logo of Bacardi. They were manufactured in France based on an original painting by German artist, Johannes M. Dietz. Gabriel and Jacques Loire of Chartres oversaw the manufacture of the tapestries.