Isiaa Madden is the Chief Architect of The Pinnacle that is Jamaica's tallest residential towers
November 26, 2024
The gender disparity in architecture is huge with women under-represented in the field and facing significant barriers.
When LCH Development Limited was seeking a Chief Architect for The Pinnacle – a four-tower, 28-storey cutting-edge luxury resort in Montego Bay – Isiaa Madden was the unanimous choice to plan, design and oversee construction on the 17-and-a-half-acre site.
Working with them on several major projects, they are quite aware of her sterling track record.
“LCH came to me three years ago, saying they purchased this property and asked if I would be willing to be the designer,” recalled Madden who is a Guest Lecturer at Montego Bay Community College. “I said, ‘Of course’. We then travelled so that I could capture their vision.”
The Pinnacle exterior (Photo contributed)
Miami was the first stop for her and the team because of its many notable buildings and architectural styles.
“We visited a lot of sites in three days before heading to China to tour some factories and get a feel of what we wanted,” Madden said. “I translated their vision and added my architectural touch, experience and flair. That is how we came up with this glass building with a 360-degree view and the ability to accommodate the northeast trade winds coming through the buildings. We also considered the sun path and wanted to encourage outdoor living by incorporating large balconies for guests to enjoy the view and the weather.”
Merging Jamaican heritage with cosmopolitan flair, The Pinnacle beckons Jamaicans returning home and foreign guests seeking unmatched luxury in a beloved destination.
The first of its kind in Jamaica will stand tall between the Caribbean Sea and a lagoon on the Reading Peninsula that will offer panoramic views of the ocean and a nature reserve that the developers and the Jamaican government are determined to protect.
The 423 residences available in one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and four and five-bedroom penthouses cater to discerning homeowners.
The 15 private villas add an exclusive touch to personalized living.
The Pinnacle master bedroom (Photo contributed)
Dedicated concierge services, curated shopping options and diverse restaurants, including a stunning rooftop bar ensure convenience and culinary delight. There are also a private club and spa to enhance lifestyle experience, tennis and multi-sports courts, a marina, meandering rivers, intimate beaches and inviting pools.
Demonstrating unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, The Pinnacle proactively integrates rainwater harvesting and solar energy utilization into its comprehensive environmental leadership strategy. The inclusion of smart grid technology and eco-friendly parking garages contribute to energy efficiency and foster a healthier environment.
Towers One and Two are set to rise first, with completion anticipated within three years. Construction of Towers Three and Four will commence a year after the launch of the initial towers. The entire project is scheduled for completion in 2028.
A view from a unit at The Pinnacle (Photo contributed)
The estimated cost is US$350 million.
Madden along with Chief Executive Officer Yangsen Li and Sales & Marketing Leader Dominique Silvera were in Toronto recently to promote the tallest residential towers in Jamaica that are expected to have a helipad and are located about five miles from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.
“To our Diaspora family and those who have already made purchases in it, The Pinnacle is like coming home, but better,” Silvera said. “It is Jamaica you love, the breathtaking landscapes, the warm community spirit paired with world-class amenities that rival any global city in the world…What makes it special is that it is being built with love from Jamaica by our developers who have called Jamaica home for nearly two decades. They have raised their family there, they have built their businesses there and they have fallen head over heels in love with our island just as we are.
“They understand what makes Jamaica special and they have poured that into every aspect of The Pinnacle. This is not just a luxury development. It is a love letter to Jamaica, blending our natural beauty with forward-thinking design and sustainability, bringing a daughter of Montego Bay – Isiaa Madden – to put this design and feature back into the landscape of Montego Bay.”
From the initial sketches to the final product, Madden’s role is constant and challenging.
She regularly communicates through translators with Project Managers from China, fine-tuning design detail clarification and frequently has project meetings with the consulting, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire engineers.
“I am responsible for the entire building, including the interior, so I have a lot on my plate,” pointed out Madden who starts her busy days meditating before going to the gym.
As a Montego Bay resident since age four, this project is personal.
“It is in my backyard, I run on the road often and I love the environment,” said Madden who enjoys travelling and hanging out on the beach with family and friends. “To see something like this being developed in Montego Bay makes me feel proud. We are changing the skyline of not only this city, but Jamaica itself. We are putting Jamaica on the map with other first-world countries that have these lovely high-rises.”
Most architects have a design philosophy.
Hers is a reflection of the way she lives life.
“It is about living with equanimity, living a balanced life, living at peace and living in acceptance,” said Madden who served on the Western Regional Health Authority and the National Housing Trust Boards. “I have always been a creative person. I am incredibly grateful that I knew my passion at an early age. It is fantastic being able to draw something three-dimensionally on paper and then see it come to fruition. Once you enjoy what you do and pursue your passion, I think you will ascend in life.”
Gaining hands-on experience at age 15 at Harold Simpson Associates, she studied Art at Sam Sharpe Teachers College before pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Architecture at Howard University which, in a study published two years ago in ‘Building and Environment’, is recognized as one of the top Historically Black Colleges & Universities for Architecture education.
Graduating in 1996, Madden said studying at the university laid the foundation for her to excel in architectural design and development.
“Howard was one of the best periods in my life which is why I encouraged one of my daughters to go there,” she pointed out. “The camaraderie is second to none. My very close friends to this day went to school with me there. There are 40 of us on a group chat. My niece started studies at Howard last September and I could call one of my professors from 30 years and say she is coming. His response was ‘No problem’. The other day I was in London with my daughter, and we saw a young man with a Howard University hoodie. She shouts out ‘HHHH-U’ and he said ‘YOUUU KNOW’ which is a response to the legendary chant. Sometimes it is hard to put into words how I feel about that school, what it has done for me and how it has transformed me over the years.”
Madden also shares a close friendship with Dr. Wayne Frederick who attended the university at the same time as her and resigned 14 months ago as the University’s 17th President.
Last September, she was the recipient of the Howard University IMPACT award for professional excellence, leadership and community service.
After graduation, Madden spent three years at Duncan Sharp & Associates honing her skills before starting a boutique company, Design HQ Ltd., leading innovative architectural projects and guiding them from conception to successful completion.
As a 26-year-old that same year, the Riu family sent her to Mexico and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to work on large hotel projects.
Madden developed the concepts for the design of Riu’s first hotel in Negril in 1999 and the new Riu Palace Aquarelle in Falmouth that was launched last May.
Other hospitality undertakings she has overseen include Excellence Oyster Bay in Falmouth; Colombian-based Grand Decameron Hotels & Resorts; Princess Hotels & Resorts that launched a property in Green Island, Hanover; Half Moon; the adults-only all-inclusive UNICO 18˚77˚ Montego Bay in Lilliput that is expected to open next summer and the popular Rick’s Café that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Madden’s expertise spans commercial plazas, medical facilities, affordable townhouse developments and high-rise residential projects, positioning her firm as a leader in innovative and sustainable architectural solutions.
With very few women architects in the Caribbean, her mentors have been men.
“Because there are very few women architects in Jamaica, I never connected with any,” she said. “While working for Riu, I was the only woman architect on sites. It was tough, but I got used to it and people got used to me. Over the years, I have been welcomed on many sites as the only woman. Things are gradually changing and The Pinnacle site has a few women. I think women design better because we are more detail-oriented.”
Isiaa Madden at The Pinnacle worksite (Photo contributed)
Toronto-born Frank Gehry, considered one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, and the late Zaha Hadid whose major works include the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympics and the Guangzhou Opera House in China, are the architects Madden most admire.
“They create buildings with curves,” she said. “Their style is playful and unique and I eventually aspire to have their style, given an open budget from my clients. The touchstone for many architects is form follows function. I believe that function follows form because I want to know what my building is going to look like before I start to go inside to start to work the spaces out.”
A Canadian citizen with a downtown Toronto residence, Madden considers Ontario’s capital a second home.
She spent a considerable amount of time in the city just over two decades ago when there was an economic boom and high-rises started to emerge.
Toronto ranks 18th in the world for the number of completed skyscrapers that are taller than 150 metres.
“The city and the rest of Canada are competing with the rest of the world and the high-rises are fantastic,” said Madden, the product of parents Janet Madden and Leslie Ruel Madden Sr. who passed away in September 2009.
Isiaa Madden in her Montego Bay office (Photo contributed)
She has an older brother, Leslie Madden Jr., and two daughters.
Zuri Brownie graduated from Howard University and is pursuing Law Studies in London, and Aziza Brownie, aka DJ Ziza, will begin Music Technology studies in New York next year.
As a fourth-generation descendant of the late Leslie Madden Sr. who established Madden Funeral Home & Crematorium in 1934 and inheritor of the Dovecot of St. James Cemetery, Madden utilizes her design skills to make the space attractive for grieving relatives.
“That business is part of my legacy,” she said. “That was what sent me to school. I designed the one here in Montego Bay which is a park that is beautified with sculptures, landscaping, gazebos and sitting areas.”
To whom much is given, much is expected is a philosophy Madden lives by.
She spearheads annual charitable programs, including the Madden/Dovecot Christmas Drive and back-to-school grants supporting 50 children across Montego Bay’s public schools. In addition, she supports the Adopt-a-Verge program and the Barracks Road Primary School classroom development project.
