Paredes Architects Founder Returns to Miami After New York Career

Frank Paredes founded Paredes Architects in Miami to keep his firm small and his hands on every project. The firm operates from a suite at 12915 SW 132 St in the Miami area, reflecting a practice that prioritizes personal involvement over large-scale delegation.

Paredes began his career in South Florida while studying at the University of Miami. His father advised him to work in the field before committing to the profession. At 18, Paredes started contributing to the Grove Hill project and the future site of the Four Seasons Hotel and Tower. Those early jobs exposed him to the physical process of construction, where drawings became concrete slabs on active sites.

He later joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in New York. The move offered experience within a massive organization, but Paredes knew he wanted to return to his home region. “I always knew I needed to find a way back to Miami,” he said. He eventually returned to establish his own practice, designing the swimming pool for his parents in Coral Gables roughly 20 years after his first exposure to the trade.

The firm’s structure ensures Paredes participates in client meetings and engineering consultations. He tracks how design choices ripple through a building. A change in ceiling height, for instance, can impact mechanical systems or create issues on upper floors. This approach allows him to integrate practical construction demands with aesthetic elements like light and spatial feel.

The firm is currently developing The Lincoln, a residential project at Lincoln Avenue and Southwest 27th Avenue in Coconut Grove. Paredes views the avenue as a primary artery into the neighborhood. His focus extends to the corner entrance, vehicle placement, and the pedestrian experience. The facade design, developed with Brazilian firm Cité Arquitetura, features vertical aluminum fins. These elements filter views, provide privacy, and shield units from direct sunlight.

Paredes emphasizes the role of the surrounding environment in his work. “The amenity is really Coconut Grove,” he said. When imagining a day off in the neighborhood, he described stopping at Chug’s Diner and walking toward Bayshore and Peacock Park. He noted he would likely continue studying buildings along the route. This habit links his professional focus to his personal connection with South Florida.