Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and OMA are the frontrunners in a competition to redevelop a 52-acre site in Miami as part of the reinvigoration of the Miami Beach Convention Center, the Miami Herald has revealed.

In June this year, the Evaluation Committee ranked the final development teams in the following order: Portman CMC; South Beach ACE; Turnberry Lincoln Village, LLC; SoBeCa, LLC; CConnectMB; Rida Development Corporation; and Flagstone Property Group.

The project includes the renovation of the existing convention centre, construction of an 800-room hotel, and lease and development of neighbouring public land.

The competition was put on hold for some time after reports surfaced of protected information being leaked by the then-purchasing director. An investigation into the suspected dealings is currently underway.