T3 FAT Village Tops Out, Marking a New Era for Fort Lauderdale’s $500 Million Arts and Innovation District

Source: FAT Village

Reported by: Matthew Kennedy

The future of Flagler Village took a major step forward this week as Hines and Urban Street Development (USD) celebrated the topping out of T3 FAT Village, a milestone in the $500 million redevelopment of Fort Lauderdale’s arts and innovation district.

Standing six stories tall and spanning 180,000 square feet, the Class AA office building is not only a cornerstone of the larger FAT Village project but also Fort Lauderdale’s first mass timber office development. Designed as part of Hines’ forward-thinking T3 (Timber, Transit, and Technology) portfolio, the building embodies a modern approach to sustainable design and creative workspace environments.

The mass timber construction used in T3 FAT Village represents a major shift in South Florida’s real estate landscape. Combining architectural innovation with environmental responsibility, the material offers both aesthetic warmth and measurable sustainability benefits, such as lower embodied carbon and improved energy efficiency.

Every aspect of the design emphasizes collaboration, wellness, and community connection. Large windows flood workspaces with natural light, while open floor plans encourage creativity and engagement. The building’s integration of art and architecture further connects it to the area’s cultural heritage, reflecting the district’s legacy as a creative enclave while looking toward its future as a center for innovation.

As the flagship office component of the FAT Village redevelopment, T3 FAT Village anchors a 5.6-acre master plan that will ultimately redefine the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. The full district will feature residential, retail, dining, cultural, and entertainment spaces, creating a walkable, mixed-use environment that blends community-driven design with modern infrastructure.

Pre-leasing activity at T3 FAT Village has already generated significant interest from technology firms, creative industries, and professional service tenants seeking sustainable, high-performance office space in an urban setting.

Supporting the mixed-use ecosystem, Vertical Real Estate was recently appointed as the exclusive retail leasing broker, ensuring a curated selection of tenants that reflect the project’s cultural and community-driven identity.

Once an industrial pocket known for its artist studios and creative energy, Flagler Village has rapidly evolved into one of South Florida’s most dynamic neighborhoods. The FAT Village redevelopment, led by Hines and USD, aims to preserve that creative DNA while expanding its potential as a place where business, culture, and lifestyle intersect.

Construction of T3 FAT Village is slated for completion in 2026, with the broader master plan expected to deliver its residential and retail components by 2027. Earlier this year, the project’s first multifamily tower topped out in March 2025, followed by a second in May, marking steady progress toward the full realization of the district.

When complete, FAT Village will introduce a new model for urban living in Fort Lauderdale—a sustainable, walkable community that merges work, art, and everyday life.

FAT Village is a 5.6-acre mixed-use development located in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village, a joint venture between Urban Street Development and Hines. The project’s vision combines residential living, creative office space, curated retail, and immersive cultural experiences, all designed with sustainability and community engagement in mind.

Hines, a global real estate investment manager with a $90.1 billion portfolio across 30 countries, is known for its expertise in innovative, sustainable development and human-centered design.

Urban Street Development, co-founded by Alan Hooper and Tim Petrillo, is a Fort Lauderdale-based firm renowned for transforming local neighborhoods through authentic placemaking and community-driven projects. Their work blends culinary, cultural, and architectural innovation to reimagine the local experience.

As Fort Lauderdale continues its transformation into a global destination for innovation and design, T3 FAT Village stands as both a symbol and catalyst of that momentum. Its topping out represents more than a construction milestone—it marks a new chapter in the city’s evolution, where sustainability, creativity, and community shape the next generation of urban living.