With most of its surroundings comprising low-rise, small-scale buildings, the design is built up from a collection of stacked blocks, maintaining the neighbourhood’s human scale and giving the project a porous quality that allows the creative energy of the neighbourhood permeate the building. The building is set back from the edge of the lot, allowing for a generous landscaped public space at street level. From here, broad staircases ascend through gaps between the stacked blocks towards a raised public plaza at the centre of the ensemble. The plaza is the cultural heart of the building, serving as a flexible space for fashion shows, exhibitions, and fundraisers – while offering a place for the community to gather between events.

On one corner of the building is a particularly notable example of how the building embraces the local creative community. Bolivian-born fashion designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Rosita Hurtado, who has worked out of Miami for more than 20 years and owns the property where WOMA will be developed, will have her new headquarters in WOMA. Occupying the street-level commercial space at the intersection of NW 5th Avenue and NW 32nd Street, her studio will be marked by a special façade inspired by her work, while direct access onto the development’s central courtyard will provide a convenient setup for putting on shows.