UNIDAD North Beach Oceanfront Center Maintenance and Repair Program

What’s Happening?

The City of Miami Beach is beginning an improvement program to make the Unidad Senior Center more comfortable and more enjoyable for our senior community.

Construction will begin on September 29, 2026.

The project will strengthen and modernize the building infrastructure, ensuring the facility can support and serve the community for years to come.

Project Benefits

Once complete, the facility will continue to serve and provide vital services to the North Beach community in a refreshed and modern atmosphere. Project scope includes:

• Repairing and strengthening the outside and inside of the building
• Updating all indoor spaces
• Providing new kitchen equipment
• Installing new ceiling and sound-absorbing walls in the Community Room on the second floor
• Applying window treatments throughout the building
• Replacing seals and exterior panels to help keep water out of the building
• Installing a new exterior finish system that will improve the building's appearance
• Upgrading electrical equipment where needed
• Cleaning, repairing, and repainting exterior metal features
• Installing a new elevator
• Adding new furniture in certain rooms and spaces

Timeline

The renovations will take about 2 years to complete; however work will be done in phases to keep the center open and minimize disruptions to programming. The project is divided into 6 phases, and each phase can take from a few weeks to a few months to complete.

What To Expect

All UNIDAD programs will continue to operate throughout the construction. Some activities may be suspended or relocated temporarily. All changes will be communicated ahead of time, so everyone knows what to expect.

During the construction, you may notice some windows being covered temporarily, and certain outdoor areas around the building may be temporarily closed to keep everyone safe. The outside staircase will be closed, but the elevator and interior staircase will remain available for access to the second floor.

An ADA ramp will remain open during construction either at the beachside entrance or at the main Collins Avenue entrance to maintain access. Short-term detours may be needed to access the building. The exterior staircase and second floor terrace will be closed for safety during construction. Some outdoor areas on the first floor may close temporarily depending on the construction phase.

The Senior Center elevator will remain in service, and will later be replaced with a new, modern elevator.

The City of Miami Beach will provide a notice at least 30 days in advance of any entrance detours and bilingual signage for any temporary redirection of foot traffic.

Need More Information?

Before construction begins, the city will host two informational sessions to ensure the community is informed of important dates, scope and benefits of the project. Additionally, a city representative will be at the center every Wednesday during lunchtime to answer questions and share construction updates.

Once construction is underway, an in-person information session will be held once a month.