Months after announcing the opening of a Miami office, New York investment firm Blackstone is starting the new year with the announcement of a location. The firm signed a 41,000-square-foot lease at 2 MiamiCentral in Downtown Miami (pictured above), the beginning of plans to hire more than 200 tech-focused employees in Miami in the coming years, according to a press release.

“Miami is a vibrant city with a pipeline of top technology talent available from best in class university programs, as well as an experienced workforce that will enable us to diversify our talent pool and grow our technology team,” said John Stecher, chief technology officer at Blackstone. “2 MiamiCentral’s prime downtown location and access to mass transit make it an ideal office location.”

The building, owned and operated by Shorenstein Properties, is adjacent to the MiamiCentral train station and is also home to tenants Carlton Fields, Ernst & Young and New Fortress Energy. At 98% leased, the building at 700 MiamiCentral Ave. is showing how South Florida is becoming a unique destination for companies looking to move from the Northeast.

“Shorenstein is pleased to welcome Blackstone to 2 MiamiCentral and Downtown Miami,” said Claude Esposito, vice president of capital transactions at Shorenstein, which has offices in San Francisco and New York. “South Florida has long been a strategic focus for Shorenstein, and Blackstone’s commitment to 2 MiamiCentral is a testament to the property’s distinct features and desirable, transit-oriented location. As the working world continues to evolve, we remain focused on providing our tenants with high-quality office spaces that are equipped with cutting edge technology to prioritize safety and sustainability.”

Financial terms of the lease were not disclosed. Blackstone was represented by Alan Kleber and Ryan Nunes of JLL. Shorenstein was represented by Danet Linares of Blanca Commercial Real Estate with support from Andres del Corral and CEO Tere Blanca.

“This is an exciting deal that comes as Miami sees a wave of new-to-market activity. The South Florida office market is thriving and continues to attract world-class tenants such as Blackstone,” said Danet Linares, vice chairman of Blanca Commercial Real Estate. “This deal affirms South Florida’s position as the technology hub in the southeast.”

Shorestein also owns The Main Las Olas mixed-use development recently delivered in Downtown Fort Lauderdale with a 25-story, 385,000-square-foot Class A office building that is currently leasing.