Miami – Avison Young negotiated a new 43,895-square-foot lease on behalf of Global Institutes on Addictions (GIA), a center of specialized departments at the forefront of research and treatment for addiction and substance use disorders. The tenant will take space at the Omni Center at 1501 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Avison Young Principals Scott Goldstein and Keith Edelman facilitated the transaction.

Founded by world-renowned professors and medical doctors, GIA applies a neurobiological and psychosocial-based precision medicine approach to addiction management. The lease at the Omni represents the Institute’s first location slated to open Spring 2020.

“The Omni Center’s hotel access, abundant covered parking, and prime downtown location were factors that drove our client’s decision to lease the space, as the amenities will appeal to GIA’s high-profile client base,” said Goldstein. “Our ability to secure the lease opportunity before it went to market and the landlord’s quick delivery of the space while providing temporary accommodations during buildout will allow GIA to seamlessly move in and open its doors in the spring.”

GIA chose Miami for its first location due to the city’s connectivity with other major cities in the U.S. and the rest of the world, which will allow the center to reach patients with diverse backgrounds and medical needs regarding addiction. The Institute plans to hire between 35 and 40 qualified and committed team members in anticipation of opening.

“Miami continues to grow as a hub for innovation,” said Edelman. “GIA taking such a significant space in the market for its first location highlights the need for creative solutions for addiction.”

Formerly Omni International Mall, the Omni Center sits adjacent to Hilton Miami Downtown and across the street from the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami’s Arts & Entertainment District. In addition to the Miami International University of Art & Design, tenants include the Miami Passport Agency and Crystal Cruise Lines. The building also boasts a well-above-average parking ratio for the area of four spaces per 1,000 rentable square feet.

Tower Commercial’s Laurel Oswald, Cristina Glaria, and Jon Blunk represented the landlord, Resorts World Omni, LLC, during the lease transaction. 

“Gia is a great example of the Omni’s unique ability to accommodate large blocks of space for a variety of users with requirements ranging from office, education, medical and retail,” said Oswald.

According to Avison Young research, Miami’s office market remained solid at the end of 2019, with unemployment reaching a new all-time low of 2.7%. The largest increase in employment was in the education and health services sector, which grew by 6.8% year-over-year.