Ken Griffin Purchased Mana Wynwood Site for Campus
The $1.1 billion deal will bring a new Carnegie Mellon University campus to 35 acres in the neighborhood.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Higher Education
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Wynwood neighbors will see a massive shift as Ken Griffin has purchased the Mana Wynwood site, including the Wynwood Marketplace and RC Cola Plant, to develop a new 35-acre Carnegie Mellon University campus. This $2 billion investment aims to bring an enrollment of approximately 3,500 students to the area.
Why it matters
The project intends to transform the property into a community-focused hub by leveraging the site's proximity to downtown and its appeal to a younger demographic. Residents and local businesses are watching to see how the neighborhood's character evolves as the site moves from an events hub to an academic campus.
Ken Griffin has committed a total of $2 billion to the project, which includes the $1.1 billion acquisition of the 35-acre site. The planned campus aims to support an enrollment of 3,500 students.
The players
Ken Griffin
The investor who purchased the Mana Wynwood site to create a new university campus.
Carnegie Mellon University
The institution slated to open a new campus in the Wynwood neighborhood.
The details
Griffin purchased the events and convention space, which includes the RC Cola Plant and Wynwood Marketplace, to facilitate the development. The venue will continue to operate as usual for at least one year, and the III Points festival is still scheduled to take place on-site in October 2026. Construction for the new campus is slated to begin in 2027.
Timeline
October 16-17, 2026: The III Points festival will take place as scheduled.
2027: Construction of the college campus is scheduled to begin.
Beyond the 305
This move marks a major departure from the traditional academic footprints seen in Coral Gables or North Miami. It signals a shift toward integrating high-level research institutions directly into the city's densest creative and industrial districts.
Local event-goers can expect the space to function normally for the next year, meaning festivals like III Points will proceed as planned. Long-term, residents should track the 2027 construction timeline to understand how neighborhood traffic and access to the Wynwood Marketplace will be affected.
The takeaway
The transformation of the Mana Wynwood industrial site into an academic campus will significantly alter the density and profile of the neighborhood. Residents should monitor upcoming city commission meetings for site development plans as the 2027 construction date approaches.
Further reading
Keep up with the latest Higher Education developments across the county.
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