Luxury construction is not about finishes. It’s about coordination.
Skylights that don’t leak. Pivot doors that don’t sag. Pools that integrate with elevated slabs without compromising waterproofing. Floating staircases that pass structural review. The difference between a beautiful house and a livable one is the operator behind the geometry.
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Leslie House.
Modern tropical architecture in coastal South Florida. Custom skylight systems integrated with hurricane-rated roof envelope. Floating glass staircase requiring structural engineering coordination from the foundation up. Elevated architectural pool integrated with waterproofed structural deck. Pivot doors at scale. Smart home automation throughout. Complex MEP coordination across three levels. Fast-track schedule.
Every detail tested against Florida realities — wind load, flood elevation, impact glazing requirements, salt-air exposure.
What we build at the top of the market.
Architectural Execution
- Complex geometries, non-orthogonal layouts
- Modern tropical, coastal contemporary
- Floating and glass staircase systems
- Custom skylight integration
- Impact glazing (Miami-Dade NOA)
- Residential-scale pivot doors
- Custom windows and doors
- Clean architectural detailing
Pool & Outdoor Integration
- Pools integrated with elevated slabs
- Vanishing edge, architectural pools
- Waterproofing on elevated decks
- Outdoor kitchens, entertainment integration
- Landscape + hardscape coordination
Smart Systems & MEP
- Whole-home automation (Control4, Crestron, Savant)
- Lighting design and control integration
- HVAC zoning and variable refrigerant flow
- Audio/visual integration
- Whole-home generator integration
- EV charging infrastructure
Envelope & Waterproofing
- Building envelope waterproofing
- Waterproofed elevated slab assemblies
- Skylight curb waterproofing
- Roof-to-wall flashing detailing
- Coastal-grade material selection
Beautiful renderings, broken roofs.
South Florida’s luxury market produces stunning architectural renderings that don’t translate cleanly to coastal construction reality. Skylights leak. Pivot doors sag. Pools above structural slabs become water intrusion sources. Floating staircases need engineering most builders never coordinate. The houses end up beautiful for two years and problematic for the next twenty.
We approach custom residential as integrated coastal construction — where every detail is tested against Florida code, weather, and operational longevity, not just aesthetic intent.
Four phases. One operator throughout.
Pre-construction
Site analysis, architect/engineer coordination, budget validation, feasibility.
Buyout & procurement
Long-lead items locked, custom fabrication scheduled, allowances managed.
Construction
Phased schedule, weekly owner reporting, change order discipline.
Closeout & warranty
Full documentation, system commissioning, post-occupancy support.
Three buyer profiles.
End-user homeowners
Building or rebuilding their forever home in South Florida.
Family offices & investors
Luxury spec or rental properties in coastal markets.
Repositioning buyers
Acquired property requiring substantial renovation.
Custom residential questions.
What’s the price range for custom residential with Academia?
Our typical custom residential work starts in the multi-million range. Pricing depends on size, complexity, finish level, and site conditions. We share realistic budget bands during pre-construction feasibility.
Do you work with my architect?
Yes. We work with the architect of your choice. We also have established relationships with several South Florida residential architects and can recommend if you don’t have one yet.
How long does a typical 8,000–15,000 SF custom home take?
Ground-up custom residential in South Florida: 16–28 months from permit to certificate of occupancy. Highly dependent on architectural complexity, permitting jurisdiction, and material lead times.
Can you handle additions and major renovations as well as ground-up?
Yes. Major renovations and additions are a substantial part of our residential portfolio, often with more technical complexity than ground-up because of structural and waterproofing integration with existing conditions.
Do you provide owner’s representation if we’re using another builder?
Yes — see our Owner’s Representation page. We routinely represent homeowners on projects with other GCs.
How do you handle change orders and scope changes?
Transparent change order process with documented pricing and schedule impact before authorization. We never proceed on verbal scope changes. Every change order is signed and tracked.
