Landmark New World School of the Arts Bridge Demolished

A rectangular bridge that linked New World School of the Arts with an adjacent building served as a downtown landmark for decades.

The pedestrian overpass—which was 51 feet long, 18 feet tall, and 13 feet wide—was decorated with a NWSA banner and hadn’t been operational since 1990.

“The building 5 bridge has been a familiar part of the landscape at NWSA and an external landmark that helped pinpoint where excitement and creativity were located,” NWSA Provost Jeffrey Hodgson said. 

Now it is no more.

It was demolished by T&G Constructors, a company that specializes in renovations and new building projects. Traffic was shut down in front of the school along N.E. 2nd St. while two cranes lowered the bulky metal bridge at 90 degrees angles. The project was carried out from July 31 to August 1 and cost the College $700,000.

“It wasn’t serving a real purpose and it passed its useful lifetime,” said Cristina Mateo, Wolfson Campus’ senior director of campus administration.

In 1990, the College purchased building 5 to house high school and college classes for NWSA. The nine-story building has office space for high school and college administrators, dance and art studios, and theaters. The building across from it belongs to the Digital Realty data center. 

Although the bridge connects the two edifices, it has been permanently closed on both ends since MDC’s purchase of building 5.

Before MDC bought the property it housed half of the communications department in Miami for AT&T. The other half was in the building across from it. The bridge connected the two facilities.

“Thankfully, the same spirit of learning will continue inside the building for years to come, and a new view down the street will welcome all of those who study and visit NWSA,” Hodgson said.