Boca Raton Resort Gets a $200 million Make-Over

The Boca Raton in South Florida has a storied history that puts it into the category of world-famous resorts and private clubs, to say the least. Addison Mizner, the acclaimed Florida architect, opened its doors to guests in 1926 when it was called the Ritz Carlton Cloister Inn. The property instantly became the place for a well-heeled crowd to see and be seen and to enjoy the oceanfront setting, unparalleled service, and fine dining.   

Over the next half century, the resort grew its footprint by adding more restaurants and rooms that were divided into five hotels, each with a distinct style. The name also changed to the Boca Raton Resort & Club.

Now comes another reimagination that starts with a new, shorter moniker: The Boca Raton. Owners MSD Partners, L.P., and the Northview Hotel Group describe this recent $200 million undertaking as “a new golden era.” Their renovation includes a redesign of the 200-acre property’s public spaces and a blockbuster lineup of new amenities, including a destination spa and standout restaurants.

The heart of the facelift is at Cloister, The Boca Raton’s first building and the center of the resort’s action. A mix of Spanish Mediterranean, Moorish, and Gothic influences, the building has been restored from top to bottom, including the barrel tile roofs, archways, intricate mosaics, and beamed ceilings decorated with cypress trees. In addition, the pink façade that gave The Boca Raton its nickname as a “pink palace” has been repainted in the original coastal white, as it appeared in 1926. 

Celebrated architect David Rockwell introduced new elements into the area, such as limestone floors, cast-iron light fixtures, and dark gray lacquer. “We didn’t want to reproduce what Mizner had done,” he says. “However, we wanted to create a more cohesive design language in the lobby, which is something he would have appreciated.”