31-story AER apartment tower in downtown Tampa tops out
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jun 30, 2023

The Arts and Entertainment Residences tower in downtown Tampa has officially topped.

Coastal Construction, based in South Florida, held a ceremony Friday afternoon commemorating the construction milestone for the 31-story tower, located across from the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. The tower, developed by American Land Ventures with partner Gazit Horizons, sits on approximately 1 acre and will have 334 units. CUBE 3 was the architect.

“Our team of skilled builders and dedicated workers proudly celebrate today’s topping out of this magnificent residential tower,” Sean DeMartino, president of Central Florida for Coastal Construction, said in a release. “From laying the foundation to placing the top floor, this milestone is a testament to the collaborative spirit with American Land Ventures and the unwavering dedication of our entire team.”

The tower is in the heart of downtown and residents will be steps away from the Tampa Riverwalk. AER is expected to act as a hub for the River Arts District. It will include 13,802 square feet of ground-floor retail space and 514 parking spaces in a structure above the shops.

The building’s design was influenced by its surrounding institutions — the Straz, Tampa Museum of Art, Glazer Children’s Museum, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and the Tampa Riverwalk.

The tower is expected to be completed in spring 2024. AER was in the works for nearly a decade before it finally broke ground.