At one of South Florida’s most significant ocean-to-lake estates — a 17-acre botanical sanctuary tucked within the ultra-private enclave of Manalapan — the primary concern from day one of this project was scope and time.
The client, having purchased the estate sight unseen, fell in love with its dense, curated gardens and architectural sprawl. But upon arrival, they quickly discovered the home’s infrastructure had quietly aged: non-working AC, dead lighting, and degraded systems made it unlivable. The client left the same day, not to return until everything was fully operational. Over the next year they defined a clear vision for the property. The family office and internal consultants initiated a full renovation and expansion effort — backed by a high-caliber team that had already spent almost a year in pre-planning.
The Problem
Despite one of the strongest project rosters in Palm Beach, the principal’s internal management team was understaffed and misaligned. A lead consultant (commercial-focused project manager) clashed with both the GC and Interior Designer. A rigid and condescending approach to project control was halting collaboration and threatening project integrity.
The site itself introduced exceptional logistical challenges:
The Solution
Palma was brought in to support the existing Owner’s Rep. After quickly assessing the situation, we made a decisive shift in project management: The existing Owner’s Rep would stay focused on the long-term commercial MEP planning and site work where their background aligned — while we assumed leadership of the renovation, its respective consultants and designer coordination, and through daily general contractor management drove the renovation to completion. Where many projects cross finish line as adversaries, we exceeded project expectations as a unified team.
Through this decisive shift, Palma:
General Scope Highlights
The Outcome
The estate was delivered on time — fully staged, systems tested, guest-ready with meals cooked — just hours before the client’s return.
Despite a compressed timeline and expanding scope, the project was executed without compromise to the design, schedule, or guest experience.
By the end, team morale had made a complete turnaround. Collaboration was high, reporting was clear, and efficiency was unmatched.
Palma’s Value
The client, having purchased the estate sight unseen, fell in love with its dense, curated gardens and architectural sprawl. But upon arrival, they quickly discovered the home’s infrastructure had quietly aged: non-working AC, dead lighting, and degraded systems made it unlivable. The client left the same day, not to return until everything was fully operational. Over the next year they defined a clear vision for the property. The family office and internal consultants initiated a full renovation and expansion effort — backed by a high-caliber team that had already spent almost a year in pre-planning.
The Problem
Despite one of the strongest project rosters in Palm Beach, the principal’s internal management team was understaffed and misaligned. A lead consultant (commercial-focused project manager) clashed with both the GC and Interior Designer. A rigid and condescending approach to project control was halting collaboration and threatening project integrity.
The site itself introduced exceptional logistical challenges:
- 50,000+ SF of existing structures across 6 buildings
- Extreme security protocols
- Three underground tunnels, four secured entrances, and DEP protected plant species on all sides
- Zoning constraints requiring individual variances for nearly every permit
- Constantly rotating habitable zones of the property to accommodate high-profile guests, all while maintaining the illusion that no construction was taking place
- Fragmented documentation from multiple Architects constructed by different General Contractors and overseen by a Property Manager who had maintained the property for the 2 previous families.
- Above all, a five-month deadline loomed for a renovation that would typically take an average GC a year and a half. Halfway through pre-planning, the client increased the scope by 50%.
The Solution
Palma was brought in to support the existing Owner’s Rep. After quickly assessing the situation, we made a decisive shift in project management: The existing Owner’s Rep would stay focused on the long-term commercial MEP planning and site work where their background aligned — while we assumed leadership of the renovation, its respective consultants and designer coordination, and through daily general contractor management drove the renovation to completion. Where many projects cross finish line as adversaries, we exceeded project expectations as a unified team.
Through this decisive shift, Palma:
- Rebuilt the relationship with the interior designer, transforming a hostile dynamic into a high-functioning partnership – resulting in a friendly, collaborative and most importantly efficient machine
- Bridged communication gaps across trades and consultants, empowering and providing the requests needed for each to do their best work
- Managed daily trades, tracked progress, and translated the client’s evolving vision into clear, fast-moving directives
- Worked closely with the Interior Design team and GC to determine a highly coordinated and sequenced completion schedule, utilizing working trades to install design finishes and stage the property
- Orchestrated the removal and preservation of priceless art built into the home’s walls
General Scope Highlights
- Full HVAC and electrical system replacement to commercial standards
- Full Low Voltage, Audio Visual, and Security overhaul
- Restored kitchen and highly custom finishes
- New cove ceilings with hidden scene lighting and museum grade art lighting in all rooms
- Associated drywall replacement and full interior repainting
- Procurement of extremely rare wood species to mill cure and install one-of-a-kind flooring within a 5 month timeframe
- Interior Design, procurement, and sequenced installations concurrent to room by room construction completions
- 14,000 SF of additional new construction designed, entitled and permitted mid-project
- Site-wide landscape redesign and phasing to suit rotating building occupancy
- White-glove art handling and coordination for secure removal and return
- Extreme security protocol compliance with different high profile guests, their private security operations, and compliance with different secret security teams while maintaining full construction schedule
The Outcome
The estate was delivered on time — fully staged, systems tested, guest-ready with meals cooked — just hours before the client’s return.
Despite a compressed timeline and expanding scope, the project was executed without compromise to the design, schedule, or guest experience.
By the end, team morale had made a complete turnaround. Collaboration was high, reporting was clear, and efficiency was unmatched.
Palma’s Value
- Calm, strategic leadership in the face of urgency and complexity
- Conflict resolution and team stabilization under pressure
- Discreet execution protecting the family and their guest’s experience
- A results-driven mindset that respects discretion and exceeds expectations
- Trusted presence behind-the-scenes, protecting the client’s time, vision, and privacy
At one of South Florida’s most significant ocean-to-lake estates — a 17-acre botanical sanctuary tucked within the ultra-private enclave of Manalapan — the primary concern from day one of this project was scope and time.
The client, having purchased the estate sight unseen, fell in love with its dense, curated gardens and architectural sprawl. But upon arrival, they quickly discovered the home’s infrastructure had quietly aged: non-working AC, dead lighting, and degraded systems made it unlivable. The client left the same day, not to return until everything was fully operational. Over the next year they defined a clear vision for the property. The family office and internal consultants initiated a full renovation and expansion effort — backed by a high-caliber team that had already spent almost a year in pre-planning.
The Problem
Despite one of the strongest project rosters in Palm Beach, the principal’s internal management team was understaffed and misaligned. A lead consultant (commercial-focused project manager) clashed with both the GC and Interior Designer. A rigid and condescending approach to project control was halting collaboration and threatening project integrity.
The site itself introduced exceptional logistical challenges:
The Solution
Palma was brought in to support the existing Owner’s Rep. After quickly assessing the situation, we made a decisive shift in project management: The existing Owner’s Rep would stay focused on the long-term commercial MEP planning and site work where their background aligned — while we assumed leadership of the renovation, its respective consultants and designer coordination, and through daily general contractor management drove the renovation to completion. Where many projects cross finish line as adversaries, we exceeded project expectations as a unified team.
Through this decisive shift, Palma:
General Scope Highlights
The Outcome
The estate was delivered on time — fully staged, systems tested, guest-ready with meals cooked — just hours before the client’s return.
Despite a compressed timeline and expanding scope, the project was executed without compromise to the design, schedule, or guest experience.
By the end, team morale had made a complete turnaround. Collaboration was high, reporting was clear, and efficiency was unmatched.
Palma’s Value
The client, having purchased the estate sight unseen, fell in love with its dense, curated gardens and architectural sprawl. But upon arrival, they quickly discovered the home’s infrastructure had quietly aged: non-working AC, dead lighting, and degraded systems made it unlivable. The client left the same day, not to return until everything was fully operational. Over the next year they defined a clear vision for the property. The family office and internal consultants initiated a full renovation and expansion effort — backed by a high-caliber team that had already spent almost a year in pre-planning.
The Problem
Despite one of the strongest project rosters in Palm Beach, the principal’s internal management team was understaffed and misaligned. A lead consultant (commercial-focused project manager) clashed with both the GC and Interior Designer. A rigid and condescending approach to project control was halting collaboration and threatening project integrity.
The site itself introduced exceptional logistical challenges:
- 50,000+ SF of existing structures across 6 buildings
- Extreme security protocols
- Three underground tunnels, four secured entrances, and DEP protected plant species on all sides
- Zoning constraints requiring individual variances for nearly every permit
- Constantly rotating habitable zones of the property to accommodate high-profile guests, all while maintaining the illusion that no construction was taking place
- Fragmented documentation from multiple Architects constructed by different General Contractors and overseen by a Property Manager who had maintained the property for the 2 previous families.
- Above all, a five-month deadline loomed for a renovation that would typically take an average GC a year and a half. Halfway through pre-planning, the client increased the scope by 50%.
The Solution
Palma was brought in to support the existing Owner’s Rep. After quickly assessing the situation, we made a decisive shift in project management: The existing Owner’s Rep would stay focused on the long-term commercial MEP planning and site work where their background aligned — while we assumed leadership of the renovation, its respective consultants and designer coordination, and through daily general contractor management drove the renovation to completion. Where many projects cross finish line as adversaries, we exceeded project expectations as a unified team.
Through this decisive shift, Palma:
- Rebuilt the relationship with the interior designer, transforming a hostile dynamic into a high-functioning partnership – resulting in a friendly, collaborative and most importantly efficient machine
- Bridged communication gaps across trades and consultants, empowering and providing the requests needed for each to do their best work
- Managed daily trades, tracked progress, and translated the client’s evolving vision into clear, fast-moving directives
- Worked closely with the Interior Design team and GC to determine a highly coordinated and sequenced completion schedule, utilizing working trades to install design finishes and stage the property
- Orchestrated the removal and preservation of priceless art built into the home’s walls
General Scope Highlights
- Full HVAC and electrical system replacement to commercial standards
- Full Low Voltage, Audio Visual, and Security overhaul
- Restored kitchen and highly custom finishes
- New cove ceilings with hidden scene lighting and museum grade art lighting in all rooms
- Associated drywall replacement and full interior repainting
- Procurement of extremely rare wood species to mill cure and install one-of-a-kind flooring within a 5 month timeframe
- Interior Design, procurement, and sequenced installations concurrent to room by room construction completions
- 14,000 SF of additional new construction designed, entitled and permitted mid-project
- Site-wide landscape redesign and phasing to suit rotating building occupancy
- White-glove art handling and coordination for secure removal and return
- Extreme security protocol compliance with different high profile guests, their private security operations, and compliance with different secret security teams while maintaining full construction schedule
The Outcome
The estate was delivered on time — fully staged, systems tested, guest-ready with meals cooked — just hours before the client’s return.
Despite a compressed timeline and expanding scope, the project was executed without compromise to the design, schedule, or guest experience.
By the end, team morale had made a complete turnaround. Collaboration was high, reporting was clear, and efficiency was unmatched.
Palma’s Value
- Calm, strategic leadership in the face of urgency and complexity
- Conflict resolution and team stabilization under pressure
- Discreet execution protecting the family and their guest’s experience
- A results-driven mindset that respects discretion and exceeds expectations
- Trusted presence behind-the-scenes, protecting the client’s time, vision, and privacy
