Edgeworth: The Making of a South Florida Waterfront Landmark
Inside the strategy for a Related Ross high-rise that’s aiming for a new generation of buyers.
In West Palm Beach, Fla., on a waterfront corridor where development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce, Related Ross is working on one of the last major luxury condominium projects planned for the area.
Unveiled in March, Edgeworth is set to rise at 1155 S. Flagler Drive, and include 168 residences across two 28-story towers and more than 90,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities. Groundbreaking is expected next year, with completion slated for 2029. Pricing for Edgeworth condos starts at $2.5 million.
The project follows Related Ross’ other recent condominium developments in West Palm Beach, including South Flagler House and Shorecrest. The company, led by billionaire Stephen Ross and part of Related Cos., plans to develop 1.4 million square feet of condos across the city.
We sat down with Executive Vice President of Development Bryan Cho to discuss the thinking behind Edgeworth’s design, residential mix and amenity strategy, as well as how the firm is responding to demand for luxury living along South Flagler Drive.
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What market signals gave you the confidence to move forward with Edgeworth this spring?
Cho: We are wrapping up an incredible season during which we sold over $1 billion in luxury condominiums, all on the West Palm Beach waterfront. Because demand has been so strong for amenity-rich, water-facing, luxury living and because we were so far ahead of our sales goals for South Flagler House and Shorecrest, we decided to launch Edgeworth this spring, much earlier than anticipated.
Despite not yet running a single advertisement, we have quietly been already very prolific in terms of reservations. Interestingly, the buyer profile for Edgeworth is proving to be very diverse geographically—the project is attracting buyers from all over the country, not just the traditional feeder markets into the Palm Beaches like New York and Boston.
What did you learn from the South Flagler House project about buyers’ preferences, and how did those insights shape Edgeworth’s unit mix?
Cho: With South Flagler House, we focused almost exclusively on large luxury-home buyers. Our average residence there was close to 6,000 square feet. We knew that Edgeworth would be an opportunity to introduce a little more unit-mix diversity for those that want that extraordinary exclusive waterfront location with resort-like amenities but do not necessarily need an estate home in the sky.
Edgeworth answers this broadening demand with 168 residences and the most expansive amenity network in the region at more than 90,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. We included in our unit mix … a collection of two- and three-bedroom waterfront homes ranging from 1,600 to 2,300 square feet, in addition to larger four-bedrooms and some very special large homes higher up in the building.
Kohn Pedersen Fox is designing the towers, while MAWD is shaping the interiors. What were you looking for in those collaborations?
Cho: We wanted to complement the more traditional mood of South Flagler House with something that was a bit more contemporary but still warm and equally extravagant. With its curvaceous lines and its bronze accents, I think Edgeworth achieves a highly unique and sophisticated coastal glamour even as it departs somewhat from the classical stateliness of South Flagler House.
How did you approach the amenity program in a way that reflects how residents are actually expected to live and use the building?
Cho: Bigger is not better unless the amenity programming is actually aligned with how people live. Edgeworth’s amenity package is designed to support a highly active lifestyle with an emphasis on health, wellness, as well as sports and recreation. We are still keeping some of the specifics a little quiet, but suffice it to say that people are blown away by the extent of the offering when they receive the in-person presentation at our sales office.
The two-tower project features a curved architectural design by Kohn Pedersen Fox with bronze-toned exterior detailing. All images courtesy of Related Ross 
A motor court will connect the two residential towers. 
Condos will have large terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows providing ocean and intracoastal views. 
Interiors will feature modern design with natural color palettes.
As the ultra-luxury pipeline grows in South Florida, what do you think matters most to buyers when they evaluate projects like Edgeworth?
Cho: Today’s luxury buyer closely evaluates everything from the architecture and floorplans to amenity relevance, views and the trajectory of the neighborhood itself. As the price point for these luxury homes increases, I think there is a greater emphasis on the quality of sponsorship, as the track record of the developer becomes even more important in the buying decision.
South Flagler Drive is becoming one of the area’s defining residential corridors. From a development standpoint, what responsibility comes with shaping such a visible stretch of waterfront?
Cho: South Flagler Drive is such a coveted destination because of its adjacency to the waterfront, proximity to the bridges, and now the world-class dining, commerce and cultural experiences that line it. Our developments along the Drive include great restaurants as well as green spaces, beautiful architecture, public art and esplanades that enhance the corridor visually and programmatically. We view it as both a privilege and an important responsibility to make sure our buildings play a leading role in driving the neighborhood’s allure holistically.
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How do your buildings reflect the broader shift taking place in the Palm Beaches as the area attracts a wider mix of full-time residents?
Cho: In a very short period of time, the Palm Beaches have transformed from primarily seasonal and leisure-focused destinations to an area where people from all over the world are interested in living out the best version of their American dream. Today, young professionals, families with children, empty-nesters and retirees all want to relocate here for the education, the business opportunities, and of course the beautiful weather and high quality of life.
Each of our buildings are informed by and help accelerate this transformation with cutting-edge design and expansive amenities that support this broadening spectrum of buyer demographics.
And how does Edgeworth fit into the evolution of South Flagler Drive’s residential buildout?
Cho: In a way, Edgeworth represents the last of its kind. The South Flagler Drive luxury residential corridor is more or less fully built out now that the Bristol, La Clara, Forte and soon South Flagler House are all fully built and substantially sold out. This has become one of the most coveted … neighborhoods in all of Florida and Edgeworth is sort of the neighborhood’s capstone.
What do you think will define the next chapter of luxury condominium development in West Palm Beach, and where do you expect buyer preferences to move from here?
Cho: With the wave of corporate relocations that is growing, we are seeing a meaningfully larger share of primary residents who live and work in the city full time. These residents want to walk to work, to culture, to great restaurants and they want a home that functions beautifully year-round. The buildings that define the next chapter will be the ones that meet that demand for genuinely luxurious, gracious, highly-amenitized homes embedded in walkable neighborhoods.
