Today we’d like to introduce you to Eli Eskenazi Boné.
Eli, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up under the roof of an internationally renowned Architect, I always knew that I wanted to become an Architect and work with Artek Design Corp. – my family’s Real Estate Design & Development firm. The goal for me since the beginning was to develop as many skills as possible and become as experienced as I could so that one day I could join the team.
In that sense, I have been very fortunate. Since a young age, I was exposed to the Real Estate industry and became involved in Architecture and Construction projects that my family’s firm was responsible for both in South America and in North America. My father was my first mentor in the field and, during my high school years, as an intern, I worked for him as a designer and project manager in Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Religious developments – which allowed me to learn a lot and build a strong curriculum/portfolio.
That kind of foundation led me to Pratt Institute in New York -my dream school at the time- and I spent five years there obtaining my degree in Architecture with a Minor in Construction Management. While I was in New York, I worked part-time for local firms and, during the summers, I would go back to Miami and Caracas to intern more at my family’s firm.
After graduation, I had the opportunity to go to Miami and finally join Artek Design Corp. full-time – but instead chose to stay in New York for another two years, building my professional experience while working for one of the biggest Architecture firms in the world. I believe that looking back, those two years were key in my formative years and allowed me to develop further my strongest skills. I ended up going back to Miami in a better position completely ready to embark on the next stage in my life.
Nowadays, living and working full-time in Miami, I feel grateful to be side-by-side with my parents and siblings. Our family is composed of a small but strong team that acts as Architects, Engineers, Developers, General Contractors, Interior Designers, and Lawyers – it is really a dream team! My position as COO of the firm requires me to be involved in all project stages overseeing our clients and staff, and, I can say that, even though I have had great Professors and bosses in the past, I have learned more from my family members during the past couple of years that I have from anyone else before.
Has it been a smooth road?
There is a sense of dichotomy when it comes to discussing challenges. On one side, I can admit that I had an easy and lucky life as my family had a successful business and I never needed anything. My parents were able to provide me with the best education available, all while having a very comfortable ride. On the other hand, coming from Venezuela, we had to overcome obstacles while working in a collapsing economy. We faced serious Political and Socio-Economic problems – and this resulted in the vast majority of our clients, family, and friends leaving the country in the hopes of finding a better life-style and a safer future.
The past five years have been a period of adaptation where we relocated our main HQ to Miami and had to re-structure our firm, our offices, our staff, and the services that we offer. Fast forward to today and we are now finally working together in the same place and focusing mainly on our new projects in Miami and New York – all while keeping Venezuela in our minds and in our hearts.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Artek Design Corp. story. Tell us more about the business.
Artek Design Corp. is a “one-stop-shop” for clients and investors looking to develop real estate properties effortlessly. Our team assists from the purchase of the lands/properties to the Architecture, Remodeling/Construction, Interior Design, and the management of renting and selling the properties. As a global practice, our firm has executed a variety of project types in more than 20 cities, including Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Hospitality, Religious, Healthcare, and Cultural developments.
We specialize in making Real Estate Developments as easy as possible making sure that all projects meet the required budgets and deadlines. We are known for doing “Design-Build” works being involved as Architects and General Contractors providing close attention to details and finishes. In a way, we are problem solvers: we are a firm that offers a variety of services and can help clients and investors do their Real Estate projects easier and faster.
As an example, we recently relocated a family friend that wanted to move from Venezuela to Miami. As owner representatives, our realty component managed to find and negotiate the acquisition of a property that worked for this client. Then, we did the Architectural design and obtained the Permits for the Remodeling – and finished it with the Interior Design. During the entire process, this client only had to talk to one company, and, in the end, arrived at Miami to a fully furnished turnkey property for his family to enjoy. Recently, he called me to say that he is very happy with the result – and that is really what is all about for us… making dreams come true!
If I would have to pick what we are really known for and what makes me the proudest of being a member of the Artek family, I would have to say that it has been the virtue of giving back. My father Samuel -a son of World War II immigrants- has always taken special pride and interest in his pro bono work for the Jewish community – which includes synagogues, hospitals, and cultural, recreational, and commercial spaces to enhance the sense of community at all ages and create an impact on social work throughout generations. I really hope that one day I can use my privileged position to give back to our community as much as he has and continue to grow the Artek legacy.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Miami is certainly the place to be if you work in Real Estate – and we saw this many years ago. As a city that offers a great lifestyle, amazing weather, and tax incentives, we are seeing every year more and more people moving from all over the world to Florida. What this means for our industry is a continuously growing demand in different development sectors. One of the most talked-about topics is affordable housing, which is meant to provide apartment rentals for low-income individuals – which can vary from struggling families to young professionals and even students.
In addition, as Miami becomes a more international hotspot for major events such as Art Basel and Music/Sports events, there is a tremendous influx of visitors that come to Miami seeking to enjoy and relax, so the hotel industry is as busy as ever. Moreover, the general infrastructure and urban quality of South Florida continues to evolve. In recent years, there has been a tremendous effort to implement transportation systems that will connect South Florida from top to bottom – allowing for commute flexibility and new development in areas that had not been considered in the past.
Taking all that into consideration, I estimate that during the next 5-10 years, there will be a growing economy with developments in the Residential, Commercial, and Industrial sectors. The recent situation with the virus has proven a lot of profitable work models that can perform digitally and remotely. Things will change but there will certainly still be a demand for apartments, houses, hotels, offices, warehouses, and more to accommodate the necessities required by all the people and companies that live in (or are relocating to) Miami – and I am excited and looking forward to being a part of it!
Contact Info:
- Address: 7636 NE 4th Ct, Suite 114
Miami, FL, 33138 USA - Website: www.artekdesign.com
- Phone: (+1) 786-449-2228
- Email: contact@artekdesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artekdesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtekDesignCorp/
Image Credit:
David Moreno Photography
Lifestyle Production Group (LPG)
Imminent Studio
Artek Design Corp.
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