The Most Impressive Buildings In Fort Lauderdale

Though a fairly new city—it was only incorporated in 1911—Fort Lauderdale boasts its share of unique buildings. From modern marvels to historic homes, here’s our round-up of the most impressive buildings.

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NSU Art Museum

Renowned architect Edward Larrabee Barnes designed the distinctive modernist building that is home to the NSU Art Museum, situated in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. The Peck Deck on the second floor gives a stunning outdoor look onto the bustling Las Olas Boulevard, while the interior wows with an elegant grand staircase that leads into the foyer. Minimalist with a curved line design, the building is a must-visit both for the architecture and art collections inside.

Designed in 1957 by Igor Poleviztky, the Sea Tower is an ode to mid-century architecture with its waved balconies that resemble the ripples of the sea—an ideal structure for the beach. The masterpiece is painted in an appropriate white hue that mixes in with the tropical buildings along the oceanfront locale. However, visitors can only admire it from afar as the Sea Tower houses condominiums—only residents are welcome.

Birch Tower

Perched along Terramar Street, the 18-story Birch Tower is a condominium with city and ocean views. Designed by McKirahan, this building clad in sky blue and white bears another mid-century style that dates back to 1960.

Keenan Building

With a futuristic style inspired by The Jetsons cartoon, the Keenan Building features curved glass windows and an adjacent mosaic mural rendering an artsy South Florida style. A landmark from the ’60s designed by Mr. Wolff, it is now part of Citibank. It stands at the intersection of Federal and Oakland.

Stranahan House

The oldest surviving structure in Broward County, the Stranahan House, built in 1901 by one of Fort Lauderdale’s founding fathers, Frank Stranahan, is a must-visit when in the city. The Stranahan family used the lower floor as a trading post and the second as a community hall. The two-story wooden house features a wrap-around veranda and a sprawling porch where Mrs. Strahanan once taught children of the Seminole tribe how to read in English in order to communicate with the English-speaking settlers. Perched along the New River, the waterfront home is now a museum welcoming 10,000 visitors a year.

Broward County Main Library

It may have taken nine years of renovation to fix this 1984 building due to its leaky ceilings, a closed escalator and defunct pools and fountains, but the eight-story library is a designated landmark. It features majestic cascading glass on one side and coral rock on the rest of the façade. Designed by architect Robert Gatje, Broward County’s flagship library is a prime example of brutalism—a modernist style that uses rough, unadorned concrete (in this case keystone) that stresses functionality rather than superfluous decoration.

Saint Anthony Church

A mix of stucco and terracotta tile, the Saint Anthony Church bares beautiful stained-glass windows and an iconic bell tower that instantly makes this church an impressive classic. Constructed in 1921 as the first Catholic Church in Broward County, the building is an example of the Mediterranean Revival style of the ’20s.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.